Board: Virginia (Ginny) Coulter
Region 2 CDC Representative
Traverse City Housing Commission
What is the history/purpose of your organization, in one sentence?
Traverse City Housing Commission was formed in 1966 to make decent, safe and sanitary dwellings available.
What drives your passion for neighborhood/community and economic development?
The pride and gratitude that I see in the faces of the homebuyers and homeowners that I work with make the paperwork worthwhile. I am inspired by the memories of children that I used to give rides to that didn’t want me to drop them off at their doors because they didn’t want my children to see where they lived.
Why do you love Michigan?
I love Michigan because it has such great “play grounds” with water features, forests, farms, and four seasons. I like change, and Michigan has to, so the dynamics of stress, culture, resources, innovation, politics, etc. for our future fascinates me.
How do your family and/or community inspire your work?
A Housing Task Force formed in our community in the early 90s in response to a housing crisis that was recognized by the human service sector as well as the business sector. It has remained as a forum with no elected officers, by-laws or treasury. It’s been the genesis of housing needs studies, a housing non-profit (HomeStretch), the sponsoring group for the Continuum of Care (addressing homeless issues), a housing strategy, and currently has a committee working on a local housing trust fund. The most inspiring thing about this group has been the ability to overlook turf and get on with the mission to house people safely and affordably.
What do you do in your free time (if it exists!)?
Life is short, I play every day and everyone should! I wish I could sing and play the piano, but I can’t. I love to cross country ski, ride my road bike, swim in real water, garden & farm, feed my family, travel, and read good books.