LANSING, Mich. (March 24, 2022) — Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) has issued the following statement regarding bipartisan legislation passed today in the Michigan Legislature to provide more than $1 billion in funding to clean water initiatives, as well as millions for affordable housing:
“To address our biggest issues, like ensuring we have safe drinking water and people can stay in their homes, and expanding cleaning energy, we need to work together. And today we did that. We now have funding so that our schools will have clean water, we can clean orphaned contamination sites, and update our water infrastructure.
“I’m proud that we ensured funding for those who continue to struggle to have, or keep, a place they call home. The stability and dignity that come from having a home has direct impacts on both children and adults in education and work. The funding we secured for affordable and workforce housing, and mortgage and rent relief, is critical to our state’s future.”
Among key highlights of funding for clean water and housing are:
- $1.3 billion for wastewater and stormwater ($515 million) as well as drinking water ($750 million) infrastructure improvement projects
- $50 million for filtered drinking water stations or water filters for schools and childcare centers
- $121.4 million to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, or foreclosures
- $50 million to expand affordable housing for individuals disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic
- $382 million for emergency rental assistance to support low-income renters who have experienced significant financial hardship from the COVID pandemic
- $50 million to create a Missing Middle Gap program to increase housing supply for lower income individuals and the investors creating the housing
- $50 million to incentivize energy efficiency and health improvements for single- or multiple-family properties
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