Lighthouse, a Pontiac-based nonprofit dedicated to building equitable communities that alleviate poverty, is pleased to announce it has secured $13M in lead gifts and funding for its campus expansion project. The plan includes redeveloping Lighthouse’s existing headquarters at 46156 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac into the Lighthouse Central Campus – a strong, centralized base of operations, and a “one stop shop” for Oakland County residents in need.

The campus spans two blocks between Woodward Avenue and Center Street, bordered by Cottage Street to the north and Park Place to the south. It incorporates several properties Lighthouse already owns and includes several key elements designed to address the most pressing emergency food, shelter, and community needs.

“This is a once in a generation project. The vision encompassed in this campus could not be more comprehensive, more bold, or more centered around the people it’s there to serve,” said Kate Levin Markel, President of the McGregor Fund. “We think this is going to be transformational for Lighthouse’s clients and partners and it calls for transformational level support. We are grateful for the opportunity to support truly extraordinary work.”

The following funding has been committed to date:

• $8M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding Oakland County
• $1.5M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) contingent on completion of the Environmental Review/HUD NEPA
• $1M from each of the following: McGregor Fund, The Carls Foundation, Erica and Jeff Lawson Family Foundation
• $600,000 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Lighthouse Board, staff and others

“We are grateful to the wide variety of funders and supporters who are stepping up to help our community in such an extraordinary and meaningful way,” said Lighthouse CEO Ryan Hertz. “The Lighthouse Campus is a truly game changing opportunity for us to provide a long-term, sustainable response to the poverty and inequity impacting tens of thousands of people in our community. This campus will help us better address the lack of affordable housing, food accessibility, and economic opportunities that threaten the health and vitality of our entire community and local economy. Our partners and supporters are helping to make this vision a reality.”

Lighthouse is also working to secure $8.5M in new market tax credits as part of its ongoing fundraising efforts. Construction for the estimated $32M+ project could begin late this year or early next year.

Affordable Housing Projects to Get Underway in Pontiac

Lack of affordable housing has become an increasingly serious problem nationwide, including in Michigan. According to the Resilient Homes Michigan coalition, Michigan is short 203,000 affordable housing units statewide. As more low-income families compete for a dwindling number of affordable rental units, it’s harder than ever for individuals and families to find housing, and they’re stretched thin paying rent.

In 2024, Lighthouse is helping to develop $75M worth of new affordable housing units in Pontiac alone. The projects include:

• Auburn Place: 454 Auburn, Pontiac, MI 

A brand new 5-story building with 54 units. The $29M project is expected to break ground this fall and will take about 18 months to complete.

• Beacon Square & Townhomes: 101 Mechanic Street, Pontiac

This $14M project is also expected to get underway this fall, resulting in 40 updated units, improving the quality of existing affordable housing. This is a redevelopment of properties currently owned by Lighthouse.

• Lighthouse Central Campus: 46156 Woodward Ave., Pontiac

This $32M project will permanently increase Lighthouse’s short-term shelter capacity from 30 to 150 beds, to serve an estimated 600 people each year in a more dignified way.

The project will also consolidate Lighthouse’s emergency food service program and establish a client-choice social supermarket; create an Economic Opportunity Center focused on income, employment, and educational needs of the community; increase the availability of on-site supportive services and redevelop the current administrative building to include an event space and cafe accessible to the public for social connections, special events, and neighborhood gatherings. The Wellness Plan and Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) will be tenants, providing healthcare and workforce development onsite.

“Lighthouse’s projects contribute to the vision and priorities in the City of Pontiac’s Master Plan by strengthening neighborhoods, eliminating blight and vacant land, and fostering mixed use development along the Woodward corridor,” added Hertz. “The campus project, and our other affordable housing development projects, will benefit residents by providing access to low cost housing, shelter and other needed services within a neighborhood and walkable campus.”