Dear Neighbor,
Homes are sacred spaces where we should feel safe and comfortable. They should be a stable foundation where we can rest, fueling us to learn, grow and do our best at school and work.
Unfortunately, due to the high costs of housing and other barriers facing residents in our state, too many Michiganders struggle finding or keeping a place to call home. This is unacceptable.
As your state senator, I am working hard to get things done for our communities. This newsletter provides updates on what my Democratic colleagues and I have been fighting for at the Capitol to combat the housing crisis our state is facing. Read on to learn more and to access important housing resources that you or a neighbor might find helpful.
Your voice is important to me. Contact us to share your ideas or let us know what’s on your mind, or if you need any assistance navigating government services. You can reach us by giving us a call or sending an email:
Lansing Office: 517-373-7346
Detroit Office: 313-922-6949
Email: SenSChang@senate.michigan.gov
Working for you,
Stephanie Chang
State Senator
District 3
Lowering Costs for Michiganders
Last year, we passed the Lowering MI Costs Plan, which included $1 billion in historic tax relief for Michigan residents by eliminating the unfair and unpopular retirement tax, expanding the Working Families Tax Credit to 30% (from 6%) of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and making significant investments in housing and community development. As the plan name indicates, these major tax changes — signed into law in March of 2023 — were intended to lower costs for Michiganders, especially those struggling to make ends meet, to help support the everyday expenses of living such as rent, a mortgage and utility bills.
The Lowering MI Costs Plan also included an investment of $50 million in the state’s Housing and Community Development Fund, which prioritizes projects offering veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and working families safe, affordable homes. This is significant, sustainable and ongoing dedicated funding to affordable housing — the first permanent funding for affordable housing and community revitalization in state history.
The plan also provides $50 million for Revitalization and Placemaking grants to turn underutilized office, commercial or community space into places for people to enjoy, including affordable housing, parks, outdoor dining spaces, community gathering places and more.
Preventing Housing Discrimination Based on Source of Income
Senate Democrats passed Senate Bills 205-207 last fall, legislation that will ensure greater access to housing for veterans, people living with disabilities and those receiving other forms of assistance by eliminating source-of-income discrimination in Michigan. I was proud to support these bills.
Together, these bills prohibit landlords from discriminating against a tenant or prospective tenant based on the source of their income — in other words, a landlord would not be able to deny someone an apartment simply because they receive government assistance. Source of income includes child support as well as benefits or subsidy programs, including housing assistance, public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans’ benefits, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local or nonprofit entity.
The bills passed the Michigan House or Representatives with changes and have been returned to the Senate for further consideration.
Promoting Housing Stability Through Eviction Expungement
With the persistent lack of access to affordable housing, many Michiganders struggle to find a safe place to call home. Having an eviction record is one barrier that can make this search even more difficult. While evictions are an issue in every part of Michigan, in Detroit alone, there are nearly 30,000 evictions filed each year. Not only do evictions oftentimes force individuals and families into homelessness, but those records then follow residents around for years, negatively impacting their ability to access housing and even employment.
I’m proud to cosponsor Senate Bill 801, which promotes housing stability and would help those with an eviction record get back on their feet. Introduced by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield), this bill would allow a court to seal certain eviction records, such as evictions for nonpayment of rent or other terminations, and require a court to automatically expunge records of summary proceedings two years after a judgment for possession became final.
As chair of the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee, I worked with the sponsor to report the bill favorably out of committee recently.
New Funding to Address Housing Crisis
The state budget is one of the most important tools we have to address issues impacting Michiganders across the state, from accessing childcare, protecting our natural resources, expanding educational opportunities, to tackling housing affordability. I am proud to have worked hard alongside my Senate Democratic colleagues to continue the transformative investments of the previous year by passing an innovative and bold 2025 State Budget. Highlights of our “Building Up Michigan” budget include significant school funding with an emphasis on innovation and equity, increased access to community college for all students, significant funding for local communities and efforts to lower costs for state residents.
Unmet needs for energy assistance are historically high in the state of Michigan. Winter heating bills can certainly impact the household budget if members of the home aren’t conscious of their energy usage.
State Emergency Relief through the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) may help low-income households pay part of their heating or electric bills, assist in keeping utilities in service, or have service restored. The program is available all year long. Call your local MDHHS office for information or apply online at the MI Bridges website, newmibridges.michigan.gov.
Low-income customers may be eligible for other assistance through the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. Customers should call 2-1-1 or their utility company to see what programs are available in their area.
Here are some helpful phone numbers if you have questions about your heating bill:
DTE Energy (800) 477-4747
Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (313) 267-8000
Consumers Energy (800) 477-5050
Michigan Gas Utilities (800) 401-6402
2-1-1 helps connect people with local, state, and federal resources that can assist you in paying your bills, keeping the lights on and your home warm. Call 2-1-1 or (844) 875-9211 to learn more or visit mi211.org.
Affordable Housing
Find landlords who accept the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
(866) 466-7328
affordablehousing.com
Wayne County Project Based Voucher (Subsidized) Housing
Find a list of developments with HCV/PBV rental assistance
(313) 456-3540
Michigan.gov/MSHDA/rental/project-based-vouchers
Lakeshore Legal Aid
Help with eviction, leases, landlord/tenant issues, and/or foreclosures at no cost
(888) 783-8190
lakeshorelegalaid.org
Cass Corridor: 2727 Second Ave., Suite 301, Detroit, MI 48201
Southwest Detroit: 3627 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit, MI 48216
Fair Housing Center of Metro Detroit
Help filing complaints about suspected housing discrimination
(313) 579-3247
fairhousingdetroit.org
5555 Conner St., Suite 2244, Detroit, MI 48213
United Community Housing Coalition
Help with eviction and foreclosure prevention, tenant-landlord issues, contract support, and housing relocation
(313) 963-3310
uchcdetroit.org
2727 Second Ave., Suite 313, Detroit, MI 48226
Tax Foreclosure Hotline: (313) 405-7726
Detroit Eviction Defense Hotline: (313) 725-4646
Neighborhood Service Organization
Provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing services
(313) 961-4890
nso-mi.org/homeless-recovery-services.html
882 Oakman Blvd., Ste. B, Detroit, MI 48238
Coalition on Temporary Shelter
Provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, and services like case management, job training, and financial literacy programs
(313) 831-3777
cotsdetroit.org
26 Peterboro St., Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48201
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
Provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, addiction recovery services, and job training programs
(313) 993-4700
drmm.org
150 Stimson St., Detroit, MI 48201
24/7 Emergency Shelter: (313) 993-6703
24/7 Addiction Helpline: (313) 263-0077
Cass Community Social Services
Provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and meals
(313) 883-2277
casscommunity.org
11745 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Provides housing assistance including rental assistance, foreclosure prevention, home repair programs, and utility assistance
(313) 388-9799
waynemetro.org/homeless
Detroit, Hamtramck & Highland Park: (313) 388-9799
Everywhere else in Wayne County: (734) 284-6999
Focus: HOPE
Offers food distribution programs, including emergency food boxes for seniors and families in need
(313) 494-5500
focushope.edu
1400 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, MI 48238
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Provides emergency food pantry services as well as hot meals through the soup kitchen
(313) 579-2100
cskdetroit.org
1820 Mount Elliott St., Detroit, MI 48207
Gleaners Community Food Bank
Provides food distribution through various partner pantries and programs in the area
(313) 923-2247
gcfb.org
2131 Beaufait St., Detroit, MI 48207
The Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM)
A Coordinated Entry System for Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park connecting people experiencing homelessness with access to shelter and housing resources
(313) 305-0311
camdetroit.org
11850 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit, MI 48206
Noah at Central
Provides stress outreach, wellness counseling, and free lunch programs
(313) 965-5422
noahprojectdetroit.org
23 East Adams Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48226
Pope Francis Center
PFC Bridge Housing Campus — will provide guests with 90-120 days of shelter, along with intensive medical, respite, psychological, addiction, social, and job-readiness services
(313) 964-2823
popefranciscenter.org
2915 W. Hancock St., Detroit, MI 48208
Community Housing Network
Homelessness prevention, housing assistance, community resources
Troy: 5505 Corporate Dr., Suite 300, Troy, MI 48098
(248) 928-0111
Macomb: 15106 Deerfield Ave., Eastpointe, MI 48021
(586) 221-5900
Macomb Community Action
(586) 469-5656
macombgov.org/departments/macomb-community-action
11370 Hupp Ave., Warren, MI 48089
Oakland County Housing Counseling Services
(248) 858-5402
Alliance for Housing
Provides information and referral services for shelters in and out of the county. They also have a list of warming and cooling centers in the county.
(248) 269-1335
oaklandhomeless.org
1 N Saginaw St., Pontiac, MI 48342
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA)
Provides resources for emergency assistance and emergency housing
(248) 209-2600
olhsa.org
196 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Pontiac, MI 48342
MCREST
Provides emergency shelter for the unhoused population of Macomb County
(586) 415-5101
mcrest.org
215 S Main St., Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Empowerment and Development Housing Resource Center
Provides financial literacy resources, pre-purchase counseling, post-purchase counseling, and mortgage counseling
(586) 315-4013
edhrc.org
8086 14 Mile Rd., Warren, MI