FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
January 26, 2024
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, (313) 400-0298, denzel@progressmichigan.org
Poll Highlight: Housing Crisis Crucial Issue for Michiganders
Lake Effect newsletter highlights Michiganders’ views on affordable housing
LANSING, Mich. –– Progress Michigan recently released the latest edition of Lake Effect, a monthly research newsletter that tracks public opinion about a variety of issues and political figures. This edition highlights respondents’ views on the housing crisis in Michigan.
During her 2024 State of the State, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer highlighted housing as a key issue.
“Governor Whitmer was right to include housing as a priority issue for 2024,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The cost of housing in Michigan has skyrocketed, leaving even renting—much less home ownership—out of reach for many. Michiganders back progressive policy solutions to the housing crisis and it’s far past time our lawmakers get them done.”
Additional poll results are available here. Key takeaways include:
- 79 percent of respondents think it’s important that the Michigan Legislature take action to address the cost of housing.
- 61 percent support policy solutions to expand available, safe, and affordable housing including:
- allowing local governments to cap what landlords can charge for rent,
- preventing landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income,
- establishing criteria for what is considered a safe and livable dwelling,
- and requiring landlords to pay for the relocation of tenants living in buildings declared unsafe to live in.
- 46 percent of those polled trust Democrats more than Republicans to deal with the housing crisis, while 39 percent trust Republicans more.
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