A new statewide initiative spearheaded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Global Michigan is extending a helping hand to eligible refugees and asylees in need of housing assistance. The program aims to ensure that newcomers to the state have an easier path to resettlement by providing temporary rent aid.
Depending on immigration status and the size of the household, applicants can receive monthly rental subsidies ranging from $300 to $500. This assistance is available for up to a year, making it a substantial pillar of support for these communities.
Poppy Hernandez, director of the Office of Global Michigan, expressed the significance of this move in a press release stating, “The Newcomer Rental Subsidy program is a milestone in increasing access to better housing while promoting faster social integration for Michigan’s refugees and other newcomer populations.”
This initiative is not without substantial backing. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has committed $4 million for the next two years, while additional funding comes courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Eligibility for the program extends to a diverse group. This includes refugees, asylees, and those with special immigration visas. Victims of human trafficking, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Afghan nationals, humanitarian parolees from Ukraine, those who entered the U.S. through the CHNV program, and individuals with pending asylum cases are also eligible.
To ensure those who need it most benefit from this program, it’s targeted at low-income renters, households facing housing instability, or those receiving federal aid, such as SNAP. A key criterion for eligibility is that applicants must reside in Michigan and be employed or part of job readiness/placement initiatives like Michigan Works!. However, it’s noteworthy that the application form is presently available solely in English. Assistance for non-English speakers is available via the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Interested individuals can learn more and access the application at Michigan.gov/NewcomerRentalSubsidy.
Michigan’s history of welcoming refugees is well-documented. From October 2022 to September 2023, the state became home to over 2,400 refugees from various nations, such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Burma. In the last decade alone, Michigan has taken in over 30,000 refugees, making it one of the leading states in refugee resettlement.
The state’s commitment to refugees was evident following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Michigan swiftly became a sanctuary for hundreds of Afghans, despite challenges in the housing sector. In the subsequent months, efforts to support newcomers extended beyond housing, with coalitions in Detroit stepping up to assist Ukrainians and Afghans in finding employment and transportation.
