Peace House featured on Michigan Radio

National NPR reporter Kyle Norris covered a story on the Kalamazoo Peace House, which is located on Phelps Street on the Eastside Neighborhood. Jerry Berrigan, Molly Mechtenberg, and Mike and Jen DeWaele combined their efforts to merge two neighborhood houses into the "Peace House." The DeWaeles are Quakers, whereas Molly Mechtenberg and Jerry Berrigan are Catholic Workers.

Listen to the story

Cooperative housing on national radio

Check out this recent feature on the Tavis Smiley Show about the cooperative housing movement: 

No Place Like Home: Eco Villages and Co-ops

We resume our series on life in the housing market after the mortgage bust, No Place Like Home: Keeping the American Dream Alive with a look at Eco-villages by KPCC reporter Brian Watt. Mark Fick, a senior loan and program officer for the Chicago Community Loan Fund and Verlander Thomkins, resident of the Harold Washington Unity Co-op in Chicago discuss the pros and cons of co-op living.

Listen online now!

A New Year of opportunity

We had an exciting 2009 at Kalamazoo Collective Housing. Thanks to everyone who helped us throughout the year! Meristem Cooperative moved to a new house, Whiptail Haven got started, and we put a new roof on the Fletcher Collective! Meanwhile, our members and Board worked hard to plan our future. We've worked closely with groups like the Vine Neighborhood Association and Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services to start turning those dreams into reality.

The new decade will bring incredible opportunity for growth. Affordable rental housing is needed now more than ever. In the midst of a recession that is deeply affecting low-income and unemployed people, we need creative new economic models to take hold. Cooperatively-owned housing and worker-owned businesses are proven ways to build grassroots power and meet basic social needs. These models will grow globally as larger economic institutions fail to benefit most people.

At KCH, we intend to develop a variety of high-quality affordable rental housing that puts people first. Through this work, we will help revitalize Kalamazoo neighborhoods and give low-income residents more control over rental housing. But, we can only do it with community support. We need to collaborate with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to change our core neighborhoods for the better. Will you help by donating your money or talent?

Wishing you a Happy New Year of joy and creativity,


Michael Gregor
Executive Director

Ending Homelessness in Kalamazoo: Progress in 2009

Research Volunteer Needed

KCH is in need of a volunteer to conduct research on local affordable housing options. This volunteer will compile information on nonprofit and co-op housing organizations in Kalamazoo. If you have a few hours to spare every week, email michael@kalamazoo.coop about this opportunity.