{"id":2206,"date":"2025-12-11T16:21:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T21:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/cavanagh\/?p=2206"},"modified":"2025-12-11T16:21:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T21:21:56","slug":"sen-cavanagh-champions-legislation-to-expand-equitable-access-to-housing-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/cavanagh\/2025\/12\/11\/sen-cavanagh-champions-legislation-to-expand-equitable-access-to-housing-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Cavanagh\u00a0Champions\u00a0Legislation to\u00a0Expand\u00a0Equitable\u00a0Access to\u00a0Housing\u00a0Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
The Fair Chance Access to Housing Act will\u00a0provide greater opportunities\u00a0for those with conviction histories\u00a0to qualify for housing applications, lessening the chance of reoffences<\/i><\/span>.<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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LANSING, Mich. (Dec.\u00a011,\u00a02025) \u2014\u00a0Yesterday,\u00a0Sen. Mary<\/b>\u00a0Cavanagh <\/b>(D-Redford Twp.)\u00a0<\/b>and\u00a0Rep.\u00a0Stephanie Young<\/b>\u00a0(D-Detroit)\u00a0respectively\u00a0introduced\u00a0Senate Bill\u00a0738\u00a0and House Bill\u00a05355\u00a0to\u00a0prohibit landlords from requiring\u00a0rental\u00a0applicants to\u00a0disclose\u00a0their\u00a0criminal histories during the\u00a0initial\u00a0housing\u00a0screening process. Known as the Fair Chance Access to Housing Act, this bill package would\u00a0expand housing\u00a0access\u00a0for millions of Michiganders, enabling housing applicants to receive a conditional offer prior to a conviction history screening.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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\u201cEvery Michigander deserves to have a place to call home. For people rebuilding their lives after arrest or incarceration, a safe and stable home is crucial for a foundation within the community\u00a0and will lead to improved public safety,\u201d\u00a0said Sen. Cavanagh<\/b>.\u00a0\u201cThe research is clear, removing housing barriers makes our communities safer, reduces crimes, and decreases recidivism\u00a0rates,\u00a0while increasing the likelihood of finding a job and creating a pathway in\u00a0our\u00a0state for\u00a0accessible,\u00a0affordable housing to\u00a0those\u00a0who\u00a0need it most.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Approximately 2.8 million people<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0Michigan<\/a><\/u>\u00a0have\u00a0a criminal record,\u00a0which\u00a0limits their\u00a0ability to\u00a0secure housing, employment, and other necessary resources\u00a0needed to sustain themselves.\u00a0Consequently,\u00a0many\u00a0people\u00a0returning\u00a0to their\u00a0communities\u00a0following incarceration experience homelessness<\/a><\/u><\/span>,\u00a0unemployment, and isolation from social institutions,\u00a0increasing\u00a0the probability\u00a0of\u00a0reoffence.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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\u201cReceiving a second chance at freedom is a blessing, but for those who have been justice-impacted, those second chances\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0often translate to being able to secure housing. \u00a0I continue to fight for affordable housing for all, which includes returning citizens because they, too, deserve to live in safe, affordable housing,\u201d said Rep. Young <\/b>(D-Detroit). \u201cI am excited to work with my Senator, Mary Cavanagh, on policies that will alleviate the gaps for those who have paid their debts to society.\u00a0Housing is crucial for successful reintegration, reducing recidivism, which is something we all\u00a0are cheering\u00a0them on for.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt is essential for people who have been involved with the justice system to have access to housing. Lifelong discrimination because of a\u00a0conviction\u00a0history makes it hard for a person to secure steady\u00a0employment, or\u00a0have a fair chance to rebuild their life. All of that is even harder if a person\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have a place to live,\u201d said John Bae<\/b>,\u00a0Director\u00a0of the Opening Doors to Housing initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice. \u201cWe commend Sen.\u00a0Cavanagh and Rep.\u00a0Young for introducing a bill focused on a basic human right: housing.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n
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The Fair Chance Access to Housing Act ensures that all rental applicants have\u00a0an equitable\u00a0opportunity\u00a0to secure housing, the essential foundation for success, safety,\u00a0and economic mobility. More specifically, the bill package:\u00a0<\/div>\n
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