LANSING, Mich. (April 15, 2021) — Housing Michigan unveiled their legislative agenda today on the steps of the Michigan Capitol in downtown Lansing, that’s focused on addressing the state’s housing crisis through a series of bipartisan legislative initiatives.
Numerous legislators, bill sponsors, and supporters — including Sens. Winnie Brinks, Kevin Daley, Jeremy Moss, Wayne Schmidt, and Roger Victory; and, Reps. Sara Cambensy, Mark Huizenga, Terry Sabo, and Joe Tate — were in attendance.
“Today was a good day for Michigan as we addressed, in a bipartisan manner, a very serious issue — the state’s growing housing crisis,” said Dawn Crandall, incoming Executive Vice President for Government Relations for the Home Builders Association of Michigan. “We cannot stress enough the urgency with which we need to focus on the legislative initiatives introduced today. We represent a diverse coalition of partners, but we speak with one voice because so much of our state’s economic future depends on our success.”
“I am proud to be part of this bipartisan, bicameral bill package because I think the proposed solutions will be immensely valuable for communities in and around Grand Rapids,” said Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “This legislation offers a great set of tools for our residents, whether they’re longtime Grand Rapidians, or new neighbors who seek new opportunities and need adequate and safe housing at a price that works for them.”
The Housing Michigan Coalition is focused on creating and expanding tools for local governments to support the development or rehabilitation of housing supply that is attainable to more Michigan residents. The common principles around the various tax credit and proposed initiatives include:
- Local control and flexibility: Local units will be able to decide many of the terms of proposed programs, including affordability requirements, length of any credits and where assistance can be applied (e.g., allowing up to 120% of area median income (AMI) and program term lengths). In short, allowing housing tools to be applied based on local conditions and need.
- Workforce housing: These tools will provide the most benefit for residents who have difficulty obtaining market-rate housing but have more income than would allow them to qualify for “affordable housing” assistance.
“Housing stability impacts all of us — working families seeking affordable homes, local employers recruiting new talent, and Michigan communities maintaining safe neighborhoods,” Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) said. “My district includes Detroit’s inner-ring suburbs, where we know that our housing options need revitalization. My bill would expand the successful Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act to provide tax relief for homeowners who make investments that contribute to thriving neighborhoods. I’m proud to be a part of a bipartisan effort to promote the renewal and reinvention of Michigan’s diverse housing stock.”
The following legislative initiatives were introduced today:
- Senate Bills 360, 361 (Victory) and House Bills 4649, 4650 (Huizenga): Employer-supported Housing Credit
- Senate Bill 362 (Brinks) and House Bill 4647 (Sabo): Attainable Housing and Rehabilitation Act
- Senate Bill 363 (Daley) and House Bill 4648 (Tate): Re-establish Code Promulgation Committee
- Senate Bill 364 (Moss) and House Bill 4646 (Bolden): Expand NEZs to additional local government units
Legislative initiatives not yet introduced but coming soon include:
- Residential facilities exemption (Sen. Horn and Rep. Roth)
- Allow PILOTS for housing (Sen. Schmidt)
- Housing impact statement (Sen. Daley and Rep. Tate)
- Community land trusts (Sen. Victory and Rep. Lilly)
- Re-establish authority of BCC (Rep. Cambensy)
“The Michigan Municipal League believes equitable, accessible, and attainable housing is a key component of building community wealth,” said Jennifer Rigterink, executive committee member and legislative associate for the Michigan Municipal League. “We want to do all we can to assist municipalities to meet the housing needs of their residents and businesses. That’s what this coalition’s work is all about and we’re pleased to be a part of it.”
The Housing Michigan Coalition consists of community, business, and government organizations — including the Home Builders Association of Michigan, Grand Rapids Chamber, Michigan Municipal League, Housing North, and many others — whose efforts focus on increasing housing supply and affordability, enhancing the accessibility and affordability of homes, and supporting economic and job growth for all Michigan families.
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