Michigan Governor, state and federal lawmakers host roundtable on housing
—
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Whether you’re looking to buy a house or even rent an apartment, housing continues to be a struggle for many Michiganders, and discussions are continuing on how best to increase the supply.
Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D – MI) brought together stakeholders and lawmakers from both the state and federal level to talk about one of the first three big State of the State priorities: housing.
“What is the risk if the state does not act quickly to help increase the housing supply,” Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) asked.
Lawmakers were keen to hear from community members that have faced struggles in obtaining housing.
“It’s not that we don’t want better or we want to do better, it’s just sometimes the odds are against us to do that,” Devetta Blakely, a board member at ICCF, said. “So we just need a little more help.”
The main message put forth by those working on the issue is that supply is too low and regulations need to be streamlined.
But even with supply, other factors play into unaffordability.
“The cost of housing has increased about 100%, so it’s doubled, but average incomes, (increased) about 30%,” Michigan State Housing Development Authority COO Tim Klont said. “People, just like simply aren’t making enough money to be able to afford thee houses we have.”
Bipartisan bills are being considered in the legislature, and seek to remedy the housing situation by easing regulations.
“There are really specific things we can do that are very helpful to bring down the cost of getting that housing either built or more accessible to those individual purchasers,” Michigan Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said.
A federal measure also has bipartisan support, but remains stalled.
“The president has said he’s not going to sign another bill into law until the SAVE Act is passed,” Rep. Hillary Scholten (D – Grand Rapids) said. “Not to get overly political, but there are political reasons that are driving up the cost of housing right now, too.”
Scholten pointed to tariffs and rising gas prices as well.
Whitmer, whose administration has taken credit for already reducing the housing shortage by 84,000, highlighting other plans like a tax break for seniors with property.
“What we have done here is propose that there are tax benefits that are available at the federal level, that we extend those at the state level and, coupled with the property tax relief that I proposed, I think that there’s a lot that we can do to help bring down costs for people,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer’s office feels that progress has been made over the past eight years on housing, and said the meeting was meant to continue that progress.
