The United States needs an estimated 7 million more homes to house everyone who needs shelter. But to build all those homes, experts say, America would need many more construction workers.
Housing
The typical annual rent increase nationally fell to zero in June for the first time since the pandemic began, after peaking at 17.8% in 2021, according to Apartment List, a rent information aggregator and research firm. In September, rents fell 1.2%.
About 200 attendees came to Lansing to hear stories of climbing rents, unsafe living conditions and organized efforts to tackle the growing cost of living in Michigan. Nationally, experts say wages are remaining stagnant as rents skyrocket.
The climbing cost to rent a home in Michigan, advocates say, is destabilizing communities and leaving everyone from seniors to families with children and students living with roommates struggling to make ends meet. Michigan legislators are expected to introduce a “renters’ bills of rights” package in the fall to address this ongoing issue.
The Three Rivers city commission met Tuesday evening for a presentation of the city’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The budget must be adopted by June 20.
Senate Bill 7 provides a funding boost for small businesses, housing, health care, job retention programs, family programs, water shutoff prevention and more.
A U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel last Tuesday grilled officials running private housing for service members about reports of deplorable living conditions from military families.
A recent report by the Lansing-based Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) hones in on ways to achieve housing justice for older adults and people with disabilities, as Michigan continues to top the charts as one of the fastest-aging states in the nation.
“With this plan, we’re building on our work to improve our roads, water, and high-speed internet,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday. “I’m particularly proud of the fact that this plan makes the single largest investment in Michigan history in our state and local parks, empowering hundreds of local economies.”
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday recognizing the philanthropic efforts of Robert and Marilee Yoder who recently donated $10,000 to St. Joseph County Veterans’ Affairs.