WMU Alumnus Breaks Ground on 48‑Unit Recovery Housing Development

WMU Alumnus Breaks Ground on 48‑Unit Recovery Housing Development

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Construction is set to begin on a new 48‑unit recovery‑focused housing community on Kalamazoo’s east side, marking a major step forward in expanding stable, affordable housing for people working to sustain long‑term recovery. Local and state partners, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, gathered at 333 E. Alcott St. to break ground on the project, which sits on a remediated brownfield site near the Kalamazoo County Health Department, Community Services and the Family Health Center.

The development, now officially named The William Schma House, is being led by WMU alumnus Matt Hollander, B.A. '08, anthropology, principal developer and president of Edison Community Partners. For Hollander, the project represents nearly a decade of persistence, collaboration and belief in what stable housing can make possible.

“This is intended to be a community of recovery,” Hollander said. “Our job is to give people access to the tools they need to do that work for themselves.”

A Community Designed for Recovery

Prospective residents will be referred through the Kalamazoo County Drug Treatment Court. Individuals entering the program will already be on their recovery journey and will have access to on‑site supports including group therapy, workforce development and case management. Residents will also be able to live with their families, a key factor in long‑term stability.

Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson noted that the project bridges accountability and support. Drug Treatment Court participants have had charges filed against them, he said, and the housing community creates a structured environment where recovery services and legal accountability work hand in hand.

Honoring a Pioneer in Recovery‑Oriented Justice

Hollander announced that the development will carry the name of retired Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge William Schma, who established Michigan’s first drug treatment court in 1992.

“Judge Schma was a pioneer in bringing the brain science of addiction into the courtroom,” Hollander said. “He pushed the legal system to recognize addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disease.”

Schma, who attended the groundbreaking, reflected on the importance of pairing treatment with stability and community, principles that shaped his work and now shape the project that bears his name.

A Complex Funding Path, Anchored by Local Commitment

The William Schma House has been in development for eight years, navigating rising construction costs and the loss of previously promised federal funding. Despite these challenges, state and local partners stepped in to close the gap.

Governor Whitmer noted that the project aligns with statewide efforts to expand access to recovery‑supportive housing and emphasized the impact stable housing can have on individuals and families working toward long‑term recovery. 

“Michigan is making real progress in saving lives and helping people build a future beyond substance use,” said Whitmer. “By investing in housing, treatment and recovery supports, we’re creating pathways to stability for more Michiganders. The aptly named William Schma House brings those efforts together in one place, connecting safe housing with the services people need to succeed.” 

Key investments include:

• $2.3 million in opioid settlement funds from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• $1.2 million annually in Low‑Income Housing Tax Credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, generating $12 million over 10 years
• $1 million from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to complete environmental cleanup
• $1.05 million in loans approved by the Kalamazoo City Commission
• $350,000 from the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence, to be repaid over 30 years
• $700,000 in repackaged COVID‑19 relief funding, also structured as a long‑term loan

With project‑based vouchers from MSHDA, residents will pay no more than 30% of their income in rent, a structure Mayor Anderson called “profoundly important” because it ties affordability to a person’s actual financial reality, not a preset income category.

A Place to Rebuild, Sustain and Thrive

The William Schma House will include three buildings with 48 affordable homes; each paired with on‑site services provided by Integrated Services of Kalamazoo. Recovery coaches, counselors and case managers will work alongside residents as they build stability, reconnect with family and pursue long‑term goals.

“This place is going to make a difference for so many people and their families,” Hollander said. “As a WMU graduate and a member of this community, I’m proud to help bring forward a project that aligns housing, health and recovery supports in one place.”

Construction is expected to be completed in late 2027.

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