Michigan’s Housing Challenge Requires More Than One Solution

A layered approach will ease our housing shortage

I still remember the day my husband and I bought our first home. We were filled with excitement as we picked up the keys, opened the door, and stepped into an empty house that held so much possibility. Like so many families, we filled that home with memories, the first meal that didn’t quite turn out as planned, our first Christmas, weekends spent tackling DIY projects, and all the ordinary moments that became part of our story. Years later, handing those keys to someone else was bittersweet, because we weren’t just leaving a house, we were saying goodbye to a chapter of our lives.

A home is more than four walls and a roof. It is where families grow, where traditions begin, where children feel safe, and where neighbors become friends. Every hardworking family deserves the opportunity to experience that sense of security, pride, and possibility.

Michigan's housing shortage is one of the biggest challenges facing our state, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every community is different, and that's why I believe we need practical, flexible policies that give local leaders the tools to address their own housing needs instead of single-solution mandates from Lansing.

I support common-sense incentives that encourage communities to modernize their zoning when it makes sense for them, rather than state mandates that remove local decision-making.  For example, I support the Housing Readiness Incentive (HRI) Grant Program which gives townships, cities and local governments financial support to modernize local zoning and land use plans. Michigan is a diverse state, with growing suburbs, rural townships, and small towns that each face unique housing challenges. The best solutions are built in partnership with local communities, not imposed upon them.

As a State Representative, I would work to reward communities that take proactive steps to expand housing opportunities while preserving the character that makes their places unique. Incentive-based programs can encourage thoughtful planning without taking away local control. 

I believe in a layered approach to addressing Michigan's housing challenges. That means combining thoughtful zoning reform, smart infrastructure investments, responsible tax incentives, and modern building policies to expand housing opportunities while respecting local communities. The Housing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) under Act 381 is one example of how we can support responsible growth without the one size fits all state mandates. 

Invest in infrastructure – Housing and infrastructure must also go hand in hand. If we want to build more homes for future generations, we need to invest in the roads, water systems, sewer capacity, and public infrastructure that make responsible growth possible. Prioritizing infrastructure funding alongside new housing development will help create safer, stronger communities for decades to come.

Provide local incentives - I also believe local governments should have greater flexibility to offer targeted, temporary property tax incentives that encourage the rehabilitation of blighted properties and support housing projects that fit their long-term community plans. Revitalizing existing neighborhoods is often just as important as building new ones.

Update regulations - To address the rising cost of construction, we should continue reviewing our zoning regulations and building codes to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs while maintaining safety and quality. Working alongside local officials, builders, and industry experts, we can modernize outdated regulations and make it easier to build the homes Michigan families need.

Prioritize workforce housing - We should also continue investing in workforce housing through strategic state tax credits and gap funding that helps move quality housing projects from the planning stage to completion. Solving Michigan's housing shortage will require partnerships between state government, local communities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations.  I come from a working-class background, and I understand how deeply families rely on housing they can afford. For too long, we have been told that economic growth at the top will eventually trickle down to working families, but too many people are still struggling with rising housing costs and limited options. 

No single policy or political party is going to solve a housing shortage of more than 100,000 homes. Real progress will come from collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to work together on practical solutions. 

We can create more pathways to homeownership, support workforce housing, revitalize existing neighborhoods, and protect seniors and longtime homeowners from unnecessary tax burdens. By working together, we can make housing more attainable while preserving the communities that make Michigan such a great place to call home.