By Sophia Lada
Capital News Service
As farmworkers from other states and countries come to work in Michigan, the need for safe and affordable off-farm housing options is becoming increasingly important, a recent task force report said.
To help address that problem, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has appointed a new Migrant Labor Housing Advisory Board to provide recommendations for safe and affordable housing for farmworkers.
The new board is made up of five agriculture seats, five migrant labor seats and four seats from other migrant agricultural worker-related organizations. It includes members from Manistee, Grand Rapids, Lake City, Holland and Suttons Bay.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Several West Michigan members land spots on advisory board.
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Some West Michigan agricultural leaders were recently appointed to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Migrant Labor Housing Advisory Board.
The 14-member board now includes Evangelina Alvarez, Kalamazoo; William Groenink, Holland; Joann Hoganson, Walker; and Dorian Slaybod, Grand Rapids.
The board is tasked with advising the department and the state on ways to alleviate obstacles in the development of adequate migrant labor housing throughout Michigan and improve conditions for the workers, according to MDARD.
“Even during stable and predictable years, the number and complexity of challenges surrounding migrant labor housing can be quite overwhelming,” said Gary McDowell, MDARD director. “Natural disasters, urban sprawl, social and political shifts, climate change, out-of-state competition, and now even pandemics take the
cbleck@miningjournal.net
MARQUETTE Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell on Thursday unveiled the 2021 Food and Agriculture Housing Task Force report aimed at alleviating the challenges and impediments to having ample housing for the state’s food and agriculture business sector.
“COVID-19 has shone a bright light on the challenges for providing agriculture housing and the critical role our food and ag workers play in preserving our supply chain,” McDowell said. “The task force compiled public input, which will be used to help shape the group’s recommendations for food and agriculture housing while balancing the unique needs of each community.”