State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) attending the Joint Senate and House Committee on Agriculture, June 12, 2024, in the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing.

LANSING, Mich., June 12, 2024 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed a three-bill package that will help combat the housing shortage in the state. House Bills 5030–32 would modify provisions related to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to help update and streamline their operations to support our state’s affordable housing goals. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) estimates the state is short about 141,000 units. This lack of housing has caused increases in prices for the houses that are available.

HB 5030, sponsored by state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City), allows MSHDA to hold notes or bonds until market conditions are more favorable for cancellation. This would allow MSHDA to use millions more in funding to address affordable housing needs, whether for extremely low-income, low-income or missing middle individuals and families.

“Housing is a top issue for Northern Michigan families and small businesses,” Coffia said. “The housing access and affordability issue is so severe that some school districts and major employers in my area are taking actions to attract more people to work for them by either using school property to build housing for educators or offering a massive bonus and a year of free housing for staff. This legislation is another piece of the larger puzzle to help address housing issues by allowing MSHDA to hold its debt until market conditions are favorable to cancel, saving millions of dollars that can then be re-directed toward Michigan’s affordable housing goals.”

HB 5031, sponsored by state Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), would allow the MSHDA’s resident board member to have full voting rights to eliminate frequent legal questions regarding quorums and alleviate challenges that impede operational efficiency.

“We owe it to the people of Michigan to provide equitable, accessible housing. Housing has been on the minds of Michiganders for a long time, and I am excited to see this change being made. Amending the MSHDA voting rights puts residents in more control,” Puri said.

HB 5032, sponsored by state Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) would allow MSHDA to increase sales price limits to those of neighboring states’ housing finance agencies, also allowing it to raise revenues and serve more people. HB 5032 also increases the authority’s ability to assist in building homes and financing improvements for disabled Michiganders. Additionally, the bill would increase the amount the authority can raise the purchase price limit in order to pay for unexpected cost increases while adapting properties for use by disabled individuals.

“The lack of affordable housing is a serious issue for many Michiganders. We are addressing the crisis head on by both creating opportunities for more affordable housing and supporting first-time homebuyers,” Snyder said. “By allowing the state to more easily pursue larger projects, we are working to ensure that affordable housing is within reach. This is a step in the right direction as we continue to address the housing crisis.”

MSHDA CEO and Executive Director Amy Hovey praised the Michigan House of Representatives for passing the legislation so that more Michiganders can afford a home and give the agency greater flexibility in responding to the housing crisis.

“This has been a long time coming, and we are thrilled to see these bills moving forward because they are so important to our state’s future,” Hovey said. “We need every tool at our disposal to help us move quickly with solutions to the housing crisis. Today’s action affirms that we’re on the right path. Now we need the Senate to act to carry this package over the finish line.”

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