I’m writing to you today with simmering anger over the continued lack of action by our state legislators in Lansing.
Thanks to our organizing and that of our allies, this legislative session has seen more renters’ rights bills introduced than any other in recent memory.
And yet: Not a single bill providing meaningful relief to renters, has passed into law. That is unacceptable. Bills don’t hold landlords accountable. Laws do. Press releases don’t pay the bills, or prevent rent hikes, or ban housing discrimination. Laws do.
We have arrived to the “Housing Homestretch” — the last chance for this legislature to do right by renters, and to write its legacy. Will it be a legacy of fealty to landlords and their campaign contributions, or of historic breakthroughs for renters’ rights?
Rent Is Too Damn High coalition is teaming up with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness to launch the Housing Homestretch campaign. From now through December, we will be pushing the legislature to pass these seven essential tenant protections:
- Source of Income Protections HB (4062-3, SB 205-7)
- Eviction Expungement and Sealing (SB 801)
- Right to Organize & Right to Repair (SB 900-903)
- Fair Chance Access to Housing (HB 4878)
- Manufactured Housing Regulation (HB 5157-63, SB 486-492)
- Rental Junk Fee Regulation (SB 661)
- Tenants’ Right to Counsel (HB 5237-8)
To be clear: These are not the only bills we want to see pass the legislature. We remain steadfast in our demands to Lift The Ban on Rent Control, for social housing, and additional renters’ rights. However, the seven bills above have been selected as the priorities for the Housing Homestretch because they have already received hearings and/or have active champion bill sponsors. In short, House & Senate leadership lack any excuse not to pass them this year.
We need all hands on deck to end this session strong and push these bills across the finish line in the Housing Homestretch.
For Organizations: Sign-on here as an endorser of the Housing Homestretch campaign.(Please do this even if your org is already an official member of the RITDH coalition.)
For Everybody: Join the campaign kickoff meeting next Tuesday, August 27 at 1:00pm on Zoom. Register at this link.
Let’s give it all we’ve got this year to win historic protections for renters. See you next Tuesday for the kickoff call!
Will