Picture this: you live in a neighborhood where every home is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and powered by clean energy. It’s a place where families don’t have to choose between fixing a failing furnace and putting food on the table, where job training leads directly to meaningful careers in renewable energy, and local centers become safe havens during power outages and extreme weather.
What if this isn’t just a vision, and it’s starting to happen right now in Kalamazoo County?
The Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition (KCCC) is launching the Holistic Healthy Homes (HHH) initiative—a plan to set a bold precedent for community environmental and climate justice. Made possible by being awarded $18.9 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Community Change Grant. This transformative plan will upgrade homes, strengthen regional infrastructure, and build a skilled workforce while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making the larger Kalamazoo community safer and climate adaptive.
Restoring Homes, Empowering Communities
At the heart of this effort is a deep understanding that climate solutions must put the needs of those most impacted first. Through the HHH framework, over 300 homes in historically underserved areas in Kalamazoo including Northside, Eastside, West Douglas, and Edison, will receive vital repairs and energy upgrades to cultivate safer, healthier environments fortified against the rising challenges of the climate crisis.
Every upgrade made today helps turn a house into a legacy of stability and opportunity, with increased property values that can lead to long-term financial security of Kalamazoo residents. To establish this path forward, $12.1 million will be allocated to fund essential home repairs like furnace and water heater replacements, electrical panel upgrades, weatherization, and roofing, reducing energy bills and improving indoor air quality and home safety. By implementing energy efficiency measures, not only will household costs be lower, but will drive real, positive climate impacts, preventing 684 metric tons of CO₂ emissions every year, culminating in a future where people and planet flourish.
Resilient Communities Start Rooted Beginnings
In an era of increasing climate threats, reliance on collective resourcefulness is needed more than ever. Knowing this, The HHH initiative will establish four neighborhood centers to be transformed into Climate Resiliency Hubs, providing energy-efficient spaces, solar panels, battery storage, and emergency power solutions.
An investment of $1.6 million will fund upgrades to these centers to ensure they remain open and functional, serving as lifelines during extreme weather events, offering shelter, resources, and support when the community needs it most. The neighborhood hubs will be equipped with renewable energy solutions, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Empowering Workers Today, Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow
A just climate transition means not only addressing the needs of today, but also forming opportunities for tomorrow. With $2.2 million dedicated to workforce development, this initiative will train 150 local residents in high-quality, in-demand green industry skills, preparing them for careers in home energy efficiency, solar installation, and sustainable building practices while simultaneously boosting the local economy.
At the same time, this investment supports Kalamazoo’s existing workforce by bringing more work directly to local contractors, ensuring that those already in the field can grow alongside new talent. This transformational work will also make it possible for KCCC to expand its team to four full-time positions to drive this work forward.
A Collective Commitment to Justice & Sustainability
This work goes far beyond just fixing houses and job creation, but addresses systemic disparities, advances equity, and gives way to a future where every family, regardless of income or background, has the opportunity to take root and grow. These investments serve as a recognition of the inseparable ties and intersections of racial, social, and environmental justice. By coming together as a community, Kalamazoo will prove that where struggles and solutions converge lies real climate solutions and that when we invest in people, we build a future fortified by resilience and shared prosperity.
This is the power of collective action. This is Holistic Healthy Homes.