Michigan Launches Housing and Energy Plans To Reduce Costs
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the raising of the state’s five-year housing production goal by over 50% and investing federal funds to lower energy costs for 28,000 low-income households through the Solar for All and Home Energy Rebate Programs.
“Together, we’re going to lower housing and energy costs for Michiganders,” said Whitmer. “By raising our statewide housing goal to 115,000 units, we will build more housing to drive down costs and ensure every Michigander has a safe, affordable place to call home. Thanks to our partners in the Biden-Harris administration, we have federal resources headed our way to lower energy costs for Michigan families by helping them upgrade to more energy efficient home appliances and install solar panels on their homes or in their community to save them money on their utilities. These upgrades will keep families cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and improve their quality of life. Let’s keep taking action to lower costs on housing and energy, two fundamental issues that make a real difference in people’s lives.”
According to Sooleader, In addition to investing unprecedented new resources, MSHDA has been implementing the Statewide Housing Plan in partnership with the members of the Statewide Housing Partnership and the local and regional leaders of each of the Regional Housing Partnerships. That work has led to new investments from the state legislature, solutions that eliminate unnecessary burdens and red tape on developers and local governments, and collaboration in support of making neighborhoods and communities stronger.?
Recent MSHDA innovations include:
- The Housing Readiness Incentive Grant program: a $5 million fund to support cities, villages and townships in adopting or eliminating rules and regulations to encourage building more housing and making housing more affordable
- The Missing Middle Housing Program: $110 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars supporting 50 projects and adding 1,492 new homes around the state for middle-class working families
- MI Neighborhood: a $60 million annual response to the goals and priorities identified in the Statewide Housing Plan
