HB 6074 could displace the state families it intends to help
Gov. Whitmer has demonstrated thoughtful leadership on housing throughout her administration. I hope she continues that approach by putting residents first and asking lawmakers to revisit HB 6074.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.
Since taking office, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has made one thing abundantly clear: Michigan's housing shortage isn't just a market problem, but a challenge that affects working families, economic opportunity, and the state's future. Her administration has prioritized expanding housing supply, investing in affordable housing, and ensuring that more Michiganders can find a safe, stable place to call home.
However, that work is far from finished. Michigan is still estimated to be short more than 119,000 homes, leaving families competing for too few housing options and driving up costs across the state. Recent legislation awaiting Gov. Whitmer’s signature, HB 6074, will exacerbate this problem.
No one should dismiss concerns about housing affordability or the role large investors play in local housing markets. Those are legitimate conversations worth having. But effective housing policy should be measured by one question above all else: Will it help Michigan families access and keep quality housing?
HB 6074, as currently written, risks reducing those opportunities.
The bill goes beyond the recently passed federal housing package by placing additional restrictions on professional housing providers that own and operate single-family rental homes. While intended to address concerns about institutional homeownership, the practical effect will be fewer housing options and greater instability for renters currently living in these homes. If housing providers are unable to continue operating under the new requirements, renters will suffer the consequences.
Gov. Whitmer has consistently embraced partnerships that bring both public and private investment to housing. Just weeks ago, her administration announced more than $18.9 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to help finance hundreds of new affordable homes. Those investments recognize an important reality: the government cannot solve the housing shortage alone. Meeting Michigan's housing needs requires every responsible partner willing to invest in creating more places for people to live.
That includes professionally managed single-family rental housing.
For many Michigan families, renting a single-family home is not a substitute for homeownership, but a bridge toward it. These homes offer opportunities that apartments often cannot: extra rooms for growing families, a yard where children can play, a driveway, space for pets, and neighborhoods with strong schools and shorter commutes to work.
They also provide flexibility at a time when elevated mortgage rates and high upfront costs continue to place homeownership out of reach for many Michiganders.
The people who rely on these homes should be considered as well. They are teachers starting new jobs, nurses relocating to serve Michigan communities, first responders, military families, and young parents saving for a future down payment.
Policies that unintentionally reduce the availability of these homes leave those families with fewer choices, not more.
Professional housing providers also play an important role in rehabilitating aging homes that might otherwise remain vacant or fall into disrepair. Others develop new build-to-rent communities that expand housing supply without competing for existing homes. While no housing model is a silver bullet, these investments represent one piece of the broader solution to Michigan's housing shortage.
Gov. Whitmer has repeatedly emphasized that solving the housing crisis requires building more homes in every community and for every stage of life. That vision should include preserving a wide range of housing options, including single-family rentals that meet the needs of working families who are not yet ready or able to buy.
Michigan's housing crisis will not be solved by limiting options. It will be solved by creating more of them. Lawmakers deserve credit for advancing pragmatic solutions to address this challenge. Recent legislation, including a bill designed to complement federal housing tax credits, could help spur the construction of much-needed affordable housing. However, approving HB 6074 risks moving in the opposite direction by reducing housing choices and increasing the likelihood of resident displacement during an already challenging housing shortage.
Instead of rushing to sign HB 6074, it is time to pause and get the policy right. Rather than advancing legislation that could discourage responsible investment and reduce housing choices, Michigan should continue bringing together lawmakers, local communities, housing advocates, and professional housing providers to develop solutions that increase supply while promoting transparency and accountability.
Gov. Whitmer has demonstrated thoughtful leadership on housing throughout her administration. I hope she continues that approach by putting residents first and asking lawmakers to revisit HB 6074 so Michigan can protect consumers while preserving the housing choices that thousands of working families rely on today and will need even more in the years ahead.
— Larry Jackson is the chair of the Ottawa County Democratic Party.
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