South Michigan News

Senator Roger Victory has introduced new legislation aimed at tackling Michigan's ongoing housing crisis. The bill, presented on Wednesday, seeks to assist nonprofit organizations in making homeownership more accessible for individuals and families.

"In honor of Homeownership Month, I am sponsoring legislation to address Michigan’s housing crisis," said Senator Victory, a Republican from Hudsonville. "In my district alone, we face a shortage of over 5,000 for-sale housing units for individuals earning between 80% to 120% of the area median income."

Victory highlighted that the affected group includes essential workers such as teachers, nurses, and first responders who struggle with high housing costs. He emphasized that making homeownership more attainable could help reverse Michigan's declining population trend by retaining young professionals and homegrown talent.

The current law provides property tax exemptions for nonprofits building low-income housing for either five years or until ownership is transferred. Senate Bill 442 proposes extending this exemption to include nonprofits developing homes for those in the "missing middle" income bracket.

"I strongly believe that we must bridge the gap between low-income housing and market-rate developments by providing attainable homes for working-class individuals, young professionals and families," stated Victory. He added that expanding property tax exemptions would speed up the development of these homes and contribute to creating sustainable communities across Michigan.