Events Archives - Lighthouse

Lighthouse Celebrates Transformative 2025, Looks Ahead to 2026

Lindsey Brenz — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:23:02 +0000

It’s been a big year for Lighthouse—one marked by major milestones, from breaking ground on Auburn Place and Beacon Place to add 94 units of high-quality affordable housing in Pontiac, to beginning the long-awaited rehabilitation of Detroit’s historic Lee Plaza for new senior housing. And in recent months, that progress has accelerated in truly transformative ways. In November, we broke ground on a once-in-a-generation Pontiac campus redevelopment project that will help alleviate poverty in our community, expand affordable housing, and deliver the resources families need to thrive.

Watch our groundbreaking video or see coverage from WXYZ and Crain’s Detroit.

Our new campus will be a one-stop-shop for local families in need. We’ll expand our family emergency shelter from 30 to 150 beds and surround people with dignity, stability, and hope in one convenient location.

Designed as a community anchor, the campus will offer free food access, job training, economic support, and gathering spaces to ensure that when families walk through our doors they not only find help, but a clear path forward.

This milestone and vision would not be possible without the extraordinary support and generosity of donors, partners, and community leaders who believe in a stronger, more equitable future for Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.

Support for Lighting the Way is coming from every corner — private donors, public partners, regional leaders, and Lighthouse board and staff — a clear sign that this campaign resonates deeply and our greater community believes in what we’re building together.

In recent months, Lighthouse has raised $3 million toward our $40 million Lighting the Way Campaign goal. This progress is a testament to the tremendous belief in our vision and the broad coalition driving it forward.

In October, Lighthouse was awarded our first state appropriation of $1.5M thanks to bipartisan support from representatives Donni Steele (R-District 54) and Brenda Carter (D-District 53), and State Senator Jeremy Moss’ leadership.

“This investment ensures more families in Pontiac and across Oakland County have access to the support and stability they deserve,” said Rep. Carter. “I’m proud to ensure we have safeguards in Michigan for people experiencing poverty.”

Demonstrating the power of individual philanthropy, Emily and Henry Ford III, supporters of Lighthouse since 2019, made a significant pledge to the campaign. “What stood out to us was the care and thought behind this work. We’re grateful to support Lighthouse’s comprehensive approach to alleviating poverty,” said Henry Ford III.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis) granted $1 million to Lighthouse’s campaign as part of its broader investment in affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Collectively, these grants will support 43 housing development projects across the region—with Lighthouse’s project standing out as one of just 18 funded in Michigan and the only AHP-funded project in Oakland County.

“At its core, this investment is about people,” said Jackie Buchanan, FHLBI Board Member and President & CEO, Genisys Credit Union. “By supporting this project, we’re investing in stability, dignity, and the future of Oakland County.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

With significant work still ahead of us, Lighthouse is entering 2026 with energy, clarity, and unstoppable momentum. The progress made this year, and especially this quarter, moves us significantly closer to completing the campus that will serve as a beacon of hope, stability, and opportunity for families today and for generations to come.

We look forward to welcoming you to future ribbon cuttings where you can see our progress in action.

We are grateful to everyone who is making this progress possible, and we look forward to continuing this vital work in 2026. From all of us at Lighthouse, we wish you a New Year filled with hope, health, and possibility.

Join us in Lighting the Way by giving today and becoming a beacon of hope for local families in need.

The post Lighthouse Celebrates Transformative 2025, Looks Ahead to 2026 appeared first on Lighthouse.

A Look Inside Our Groundbreaking for Auburn Place and Beacon Place

Robin Schwartz — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:59:03 +0000

On Wednesday, July 23, Lighthouse celebrated the groundbreaking of two major affordable housing projects: Auburn Place and Beacon Place Apartments and Townhomes. The two projects, totaling more than $44M will bring 94 units of safe, high-quality, affordable housing to Pontiac.

Click the video below for a recap of the groundbreaking event.

“There’s an urgent need for more affordable housing across Michigan, and we’ve made it our focus to help meet that need with bold, collaborative solutions,” said Ryan Hertz, CEO of Lighthouse. “We are proud to break ground on these two projects in the city we call home — as we continue to expand access to housing, dignity, and opportunity for all.”

The groundbreaking comes amid an affordable housing crisis in Michigan, where an estimated 190,000-unit deficit in affordable housing has created considerable strain for low-income residents according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) – especially those struggling to afford rent or mortgages amid rising housing costs and stagnant wages.

Auburn Place will deliver 54 brand-new rental units in a modern five-story building, while Beacon Place will renovate 28 apartments at 101 Mechanic Street and 12 townhomes at a nearby site adjacent to Auburn Place. Beacon Place is a redevelopment of Lighthouse’s first multi-family affordable housing development project, Beacon Square & Townhomes, dating back to 2008. Units there will be updated and modernized.

“These projects reflect what’s possible when public and private partners come together with urgency and purpose,” Hertz added. “We’re building more than housing, we’re building community resilience.”

All units will be affordable, with rents subsidized based on tenant income – meaning residents will pay no more than one-third of their gross income toward rent. A portion of the apartments are designated for supportive housing, serving residents with disabilities.

Auburn Place and Beacon Place are part of Lighthouse’s growing pipeline of affordable housing projects, now totaling $150 million in real estate development in Detroit and Pontiac, including multiple affordable and supportive housing projects, and an expansion of Lighthouse’s family emergency shelter and main campus.

That figure represents nearly three times the scale of our previous affordable housing development efforts to date. The expanded work is driven by increased internal capacity, strategic partnerships, creative financing, and a deep commitment to meeting both local and statewide needs.

The Pontiac projects follow the start of redevelopment work at Lee Plaza in Detroit, where Lighthouse is part of the development team along with Roxbury Group and Ethos Development Partners. The 16-story building at 2240 W. Grand Boulevard is being transformed into 117 new affordable senior apartments and 65 market-rate apartments, marking Lighthouse’s first major project outside of Oakland County.

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