This week, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) is introducing the Workforce Housing Development Act, which would create a grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to encourage the construction, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable workforce housing. Habitat for Humanity Capital Region and Michigan Municipal League both endorse the legislation.
A 2023 report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that “home prices and rents remain elevated from pre-pandemic levels, leaving millions—including a disproportionate share of people of color—struggling with housing cost burdens, priced out of homeownership, or without shelter at all.”
“A lack of affordable housing is an issue I constantly hear about in the district when I meet with constituents and community leaders,” said Slotkin. “It’s an acute issue, from extremely limited attainable housing for first-time homebuyers to exorbitant rental prices that make it next to impossible for people to live and work in the same place. We need to focus on addressing this crisis head-on, and creating grant opportunities that support affordable housing is a step toward that goal.”
Specifically, the bill would establish a competitive grant program at HUD that would encourage housing development organizations – including local government, nonprofit organizations, public housing agencies, and community financial institutions – to increase the number of affordable homes available to local, low-income workers.
Grant recipients would have to keep their properties affordable for at least five years, with the total cost of the unit being less than 30 percent of tenants’ income. In addition, recipient organizations would have to submit documentation to HUD showing that the homes constructed meet the needs of the local community.
The legislation is supported by Habitat for Humanity Capital Region and the Michigan Municipal League.
“The Workforce Housing Development bill introduced by Representative Slotkin is an important step forward in recognizing and addressing the affordable housing crisis in our state. Grant programs such as this provide nonprofit housing developers with critical and much-needed funding to continue serving those most impacted by this historic shortage in safe and affordable homeownership options,” said Brent Taylor, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Capital Region.
“The housing crisis is being experienced in Michigan communities of all shapes and sizes,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director for the Michigan Municipal League. “The affordable workforce housing bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is welcome news for our communities and a much needed approach to helping address the nation’s housing crisis. We look forward to working with members of Congress to have this bill become law.”
Slotkin remains engaged on the issue of affordable housing, and has worked closely with community organizations, the Michigan state government, and local governments to develop legislation that takes aim at the housing crisis.
She is the co-lead of the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, which would grant volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel access to two existing federal housing assistance programs: USDA’s Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and HUD’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. Slotkin is also a co-sponsor on the Neighborhood Housing Investment Act, a bipartisan bill that would create a new tax incentive to produce half a million starter homes in under-resourced communities over the next decade.
Most recently, in August, Slotkin joined Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Executive Director Amy Hovey to tour some of their ongoing housing projects and public-private partnerships.
