The Michigan Senate passed legislation, SB293, to increase the state’s middle-income housing supply by expanding Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) eligibility to include middle-income households.
Championed by Senators McDonald and Rivet, this legislation offers a comprehensive strategy to promote middle-income housing. It includes tax incentives for builders, adjustments to zoning laws to allow for higher-density housing and infrastructural investment to support new developments.
This isn’t just a bill, it’s a statement that says, “We see you; we acknowledge the struggle and we’re committed to making it right.”
Housing instability doesn’t just affect the low-income demographic, middle-income Black families are also caught in this storm, battling stagnating wages, rising housing prices and the lingering effects of historical housing discrimination.
Middle-income families often find themselves in a housing paradox—they earn too much to qualify for low-income housing assistance but too little to afford rising housing costs. The inability to find suitable, affordable housing pushes them into a cycle of economic instability and prevents them from building wealth through homeownership, a traditional path to financial security.
“Black Detroiters have been systematically disadvantaged for generations, especially when it comes to housing,” said Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation. “While redlining is no longer an explicit practice, discrimination persists implicitly in subtle ways: appraisal bias, tax foreclosure and a lack of suitable housing for all income levels, particularly for low- and middle-income families.”
When you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head, it’s hard to focus on anything else. A stable, affordable home gives people the freedom to dream bigger, reach further and pass on a legacy of security to future generations.
The McDonald Rivet Bill aims to break this cycle. By introducing tax incentives for builders, reforming zoning laws to allow for higher-density housing and investing in supporting infrastructure, this bill seeks to significantly increase the availability of middle-income housing.
For Detroit, a city rich with Black culture and history, yet marked by considerable economic strain, the passing of this bill could be a game-changer. In particular, it has the potential to boost Detroit’s predominantly Black neighborhoods, promoting revitalization and stimulating economic growth.
This bill is set to kickstart a ripple effect. By increasing housing accessibility, in turn it also paves the way for job opportunities in construction, property management, and more.
The McDonald Rivet Bill represents more than just housing policy reform. It’s a statement of recognition, an acknowledgement of the challenges faced by middle-income Black families and a commitment to effecting real, tangible change.
“Additionally, Detroit is in desperate need of affordable housing, robust home repair programming and attainable middle-income housing,” Grannemann said. “Bills like SB293 are an important step in the right direction, enabling hardworking families across the state to purchase quality housing and foster intergenerational wealth.”
In passing the McDonald Rivet Bill, the Senate has marked a significant milestone in the journey toward housing equality and economic justice for Black middle-income families in Detroit and across the nation. It represents a beacon of hope, promising not just homes, but a chance for these families to secure a brighter, more equitable future.
As per recent studies, Michigan’s home prices are increasingly out of reach for middle-income families. While new development often focuses on luxury or subsidized low-income housing, the middle ground – homes affordable to the middle class – is disappearing rapidly. And it’s within this vanishing middle ground where Black Detroiters find themselves trapped.
Despite the strides we have made in many areas, economic inequality is still rampant. In Detroit, the median income for Black households remains significantly lower than their white counterparts. This economic reality, coupled with Michigan’s rising housing prices, leaves Black Detroiters especially vulnerable to housing instability and displacement.
Detroit, a city with a vibrant Black culture and history yet marked by economic hardship in recent decades, now stands on the cusp of meaningful change. The McDonald Rivet Bill could be a catalyst for revitalizing Detroit’s predominantly Black neighborhoods and stimulating the local economy.
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