Northern Lakes Economic Alliance • info@northernlakes.net • www.northernlakes.net
Janet Koch, Community Development
What would you say if I told you there’s a way, available right now, to help alleviate the housing shortage?
For those of you who are paying attention, that’s how I started my article last month. But it’s true again this month! What could this other way possibly be? Single room rentals.
Single room rentals are not studio apartments or efficiency apartments and they’re not necessarily short term rentals of the Airbnb variety. Single room rentals means that homeowners are renting a room to a non-family member. This can be a win-win situation as it brings in additional income to the household and provides housing for someone in need.
Like accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, single room rentals are not a silver bullet for the housing issue, but they have the potential to help, especially with seasonal housing. For information about single room regulations in your community, please contact your local zoning administrator. For general information on workforce housing and other methods of assisting with the housing shortage, call NLEA at 231-582-6482 or email janet@northernlakes.net.
