Help for Landlords in Violation

Here are contact numbers and application-page links for the major repair/assistance programs in City of Grand Rapids — and relevant statewide Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) support — that property owners (including small landlords) can use for rental property repair or code-violation remediation.

Program / Agency Contact Information + Application / Info Page
City of Grand Rapids – Housing Rehabilitation Program (for home repairs, safety upgrades, energy-efficiency, rehab of rentals/owner-occupied units) Phone: 616-456-3030 City of Grand Rapids+1
Apply online: via the city’s “Apply for Housing Rehabilitation Assistance” page. City of Grand Rapids
City of Grand Rapids – Lead Hazard Control / “Get the Lead Out” Program (for lead-paint remediation, hazard control, code/safety repair) Phone: 616-456-3030 City of Grand Rapids+2Get Ahead of Lead+2
Info & application PDF: “Get the Lead Out Homeowner Application” page. City of Grand Rapids+1
Statewide (MSHDA) – General contact for housing-related programs, including potential rental rehab funding or support Toll-free: 1-855-MI-MSHDA (1-855-646-7432) Michigan Government+1
MSHDA directory info page lists contact details and programs. Michigan Government+1
Statewide – MSHDA Rental / Housing Resource Contact (for broader rental housing, rehabilitation, vouchers, etc.) Rental-housing support contact: 855-MI-MSHDA Michigan Government+1
Regional / County-level support (via Kent County Health Department / county-wide lead & safety programs — sometimes relevant for lead or safety concerns) County Health-Dept main: (616) 632-7100 Kent County Government+1
Lead-program contacts listed on Kent County resources page. Kent County Government+1

🧾 Notes & What to Do Next

  • For rentals or non-owner-occupied units, the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program can still apply, but funding often requires compliance with affordability and income-based conditions. City of Grand Rapids+1

  • The “Lead Hazard Control / Get the Lead Out” program works on older homes (especially pre-1978 construction) to remediate lead-based hazards; landlords may qualify, though costs/terms may differ vs owner-occupied homes. Get Ahead of Lead+2City of Grand Rapids+2

  • When contacting MSHDA, be prepared to describe the property (address, # units, condition), what needs repairing, and whether it’s owner-occupied or rental — they’ll direct you to relevant state or local funding sources.

Following is a clean, current, owner-focused list of 10 potential repair-assistance programs relevant to Grand Rapids rental property owners, including those addressing code violations, safety issues, and major repairs.

✅ 1. City of Grand Rapids – Housing Rehabilitation Program (Rental & Owner-Occupied Rehab)

Best overall option for rental-property repairs, including items that appear on a violation notice.

What it covers:

  • Code violations

  • Electrical, plumbing, heating

  • Roofing, structural issues

  • Windows, doors, safety improvements

  • Vacant or occupied properties

Funding type: Low-interest or forgivable loans depending on unit affordability.

Owner requirements: Must agree to certain rent and tenant-income limits for a number of years.

Contact: 616-456-3030
Info / Application:
https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Services/Apply-for-Housing-Rehabilitation-Assistance

✅ 2. City of Grand Rapids – Lead Hazard Control / “Get the Lead Out” Program

Works on older homes (pre-1978), including rentals.

What it covers:

  • Lead paint removal

  • Windows, doors, siding

  • Related safety and minor repair work necessary for lead compliance

  • Often $10,000–$20,000+ per rental unit

Contact: 616-456-3030
Application (PDF):
https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/files/assets/public/initatives/get-the-lead-out/get-the-lead-out-homeowner-application.pdf

✅ 3. Neighborhood Services – Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rehab Funds

The City uses these funds for targeted rehab projects, sometimes including rental rehab in specific neighborhoods or census tracts.

What it covers:

  • Health and safety

  • Code corrections

  • Major interior/exterior rehab

Availability cycles; landlords may need to join a waitlist.

Contact: 616-456-3030
(Directed through the main Housing & Community Development office.)

✅ 4. Kent County Lead Program (Health Department)

Sometimes supplements the City’s programs or picks up properties outside the City of GR.

What it covers:

  • Lead remediation

  • Safety-related repairs (required to complete lead work)

Contact: 616-632-7063 (Lead program line)

✅ 5. Kent County Weatherization Assistance Program

For income-eligible tenants but applicable to rental units with landlord approval.

What it covers:

  • Insulation

  • Air sealing

  • Furnace repair or replacement

  • Minor electrical safety fixes

Contact: 616-241-2601 (administered by ACSET / Kent County Community Action)

✅ 6. MSHDA – Property Improvement Program (PIP) Loans

Statewide funding for rehab of small rentals or single-family homes.

What it covers:

  • Major repairs

  • Mechanical systems

  • Building-code compliance

  • Structural issues

Contact: 1-855-MI-MSHDA
Program directory:
https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/about/directory

✅ 7. MSHDA – Rental Rehab / Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP)

These funds are awarded through local municipalities or nonprofits, sometimes used for small-landlord unit rehabilitation.

What it covers:

  • Exterior improvements

  • Code corrections

  • Health and safety repairs

How to apply: Depends on local awardees each year (City of GR or nonprofits).

✅ 8. USDA Rural Development – Home Repair Loans & Grants

Applies only if the property is outside core Grand Rapids city limits.
Good for landlords in rural Kent County.

What it covers:

  • Repair

  • Replacement of major systems

  • Correction of health and safety issues

Contact: USDA RD Michigan office
Phone: 517-324-5160

✅ 9. Consumers Energy – Home Heating, Furnace & Safety Programs

For units where tenants qualify by income, but benefits occur at the property.

What it covers:

  • Furnace repair or replacement

  • Water heaters

  • Electrical safety items preventing energy upgrades

  • Weatherization tie-ins

Contact: 877-448-9433
Programs vary by season and eligibility.

✅ 10. Nonprofit Housing Organizations (Occasional Rehab Funds)

Funds vary by year but may include limited repair funds, match programs, or targeted-neighborhood assistance.

Examples:

Dwelling Place – Rental preservation and partnership rehab programs
LINC UP – Neighborhood stabilization projects
Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF) – Sometimes administers repair or lead-safety funds

General Contact Lines:

  • Dwelling Place: 616-454-0928

  • LINC UP: 616-451-9140

  • ICCF: 616-336-9333

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