Michigan's first Statewide Housing Plan implementation spurs Regional Housing Partnership meetings

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is conducting 15 Regional Housing Partnership (RHP) meetings to discuss the implementation of the Statewide Housing Plan (SHP). A mix of partners with a hand in housing—including land banks, developers, and nonprofits—have been invited to attend and share their respective priorities based on regional needs.

“Access to affordable, attainable housing is the foundation for health, safety, and economic opportunity,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “That’s why we released the Statewide Housing Plan with goals to build or refurbish 75,000 housing units, stabilize housing for 100,000 families, and improve energy efficiency for 15,000 homes. As part of the plan, we are kicking off regional housing meetings across the state, bringing people together to find solutions that meet local needs. Together, we will build on this year’s record, bipartisan investments to build and refurbish thousands of affordable housing units and revitalize communities. Investing in housing supports good-paying construction jobs, helps families find a place to call home, and makes our communities more attractive places to live and work.”

The first RHP meeting kicked off Monday, March 13, in Traverse City, will continue to 14 more regions, and end with an April 6 meeting in Gaylord. During all events, organizations will discover ways to get involved in localized work with the RHP closest to them and receive an overview of Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan, which they will leverage to identify priority areas and issues relevant to their communities.

Local meetings will take place

• March 30 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Troy
• March 31 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Eastpointe
• March 20 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Livonia
• March 20 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in Detroit  

The partner meetings align with Whitmer’s Executive Order 2022-10 which called for the formation of a Statewide Housing Partnership to facilitate a coordinated, data-driven, outcome-oriented approach to housing to help create policies and programs that enable Michigan residents to secure affordable housing. Appointments to the Statewide Housing Partnership advisory board were announced March 9.
“The RHP kickoff meetings will bring community leaders together to outline what must be done to address the local housing needs of their area,” said MSHDA Executive Director Amy Hovey. “The Statewide Housing Plan set the foundation for this work. Now we’re ready to act alongside our partners and fellow Michiganders to improve the housing landscape for the people we serve.”

For a complete list of meetings, visit https://cedamichigan.org/training/rhp-kick-off-meetings.