KNHS in a Nutshell:

Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, (KNHS for short) is a 501 © (3), private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to rebuilding Kalamazoo's neighborhoods. Through a unique partnership with local residents, businesses, local funders, neighborhood associations, members of the real estate community, local lenders, and the City of Kalamazoo, KNHS enables individuals and families to enter into home ownership, rehabilitate their homes, and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

KNHS employs a dual primary strategy: converting the unusually high number of rental units in Kalamazoo (53% according to the 1990 census) back into owner-occupied homes and eliminating sub-standard housing by providing rehabilitation assistance.

Since 1991, KNHS has provided the resources to enable over 550 low-to-moderate income families to become new homeowners in Kalamazoo. Three hundred and seventy-eight individuals and families became new homeowners through KNHS since 2000.

KNHS is a charter member of the NeighborWorks® Network of NeighborWorks® America, a national intermediary that actively funds neighborhood revitalization activities. Sister NeighborWorks® network organizations in Michigan include: Neighborhoods, Inc. of Battle Creek, Detroit NHS, Pontiac NHS, and Neighborhood Renewal Services of Saginaw.

KNHS Mission

The mission of Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., is to revitalize neighborhoods and foster homeownership. 

Our Vision

KNHS will significantly increase the number of successful home owners in both the target neighborhoods and other neighborhoods in the County of Kalamazoo

Outcomes of our Vision

When we achieve our vision, the following will be true in our target neighborhoods:

• Home ownership will have increased
• Property values will have risen faster than the rate of inflation
• Homeowners will be utilizing budgeting/money management skills to prevent foreclosures and delinquencies
• Visible code violations will have been reduced
• Participation in neighborhood associations will have increased
• Middle income homeowners will have increased

KNHS Belief Structure:

KNHS operates with the following core beliefs:

Financial equity gained through homeownership is of paramount importance to the accumulation of personal wealth.

Homeownership stabilizes neighborhoods, results in lower crime rates, more stable households, and better academic performance in local schools.

Healthy neighborhoods with a rich mixture of income levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages and occupations are economic assets to the City of Kalamazoo.

KNHS Target Neighborhoods:

While KNHS helps people to become homeowners throughout Kalamazoo County, focused attention is given to six target neighborhoods in the City of Kalamazoo where special lending products and comprehensive revitalization strategies are available. Close to $50 million dollars has been invested in these neighborhoods over the past 10 years These neighborhoods are:

• Eastside
• Edison
• Northside
• Stuart
• Vine
• Fairmount (Formerly West Douglas)