A wide-ranging coalition of organizations issued a call for the Legislature to pass a package of bills seeking to increase the housing supply and decrease housing costs in Michigan.
The bills, known as the Housing Readiness Plan, were introduced in February by a bipartisan group of legislators led by state Reps. Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.) and Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids). The package includes legislation to allow duplexes in single-family residential zones in or near metropolitan areas, to update the procedure for protesting zoning changes, and to allow accessory dwelling units on land parcels with single-family homes.
A press release from business, environment, real estate and advocacy groups in support of the legislation emphasized the importance of the legislation, noting that the median Michigan home sale price is $270,000 as of March 2026, and that while a balanced housing market typically has six months of inventory, the National Association of Realtors says that Michigan has only three months of available housing.
Michigan only has 37 affordable and available rental homes per 100 extremely low-income renter households in the state, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and 75% of extremely low-income renter households face a severe cost burden, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs and utilities, demonstrating the shortage of affordable housing in the state.
“Increasing housing density is a key element in establishing walkable, vibrant communities,” Ross Gavin, urban land use and infrastructure policy director at the Michigan Environmental Council, said. “The Housing Readiness Plan is a step toward Michigan communities reducing carbon emissions, encouraging economic development, and promoting multi-modal forms of transportation. It is a vital effort in attracting and retaining Michigan’s future work force.”
The coalition in support of the legislation includes prominent conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity, housing advocates like Abundant Housing Michigan, and environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Housing was a focus of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State speech in February, and the bills have received support in past weeks from both Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.). However, all of the bills currently sit in the House Committee on Government Operations, which is considered to be a graveyard for most legislation sent there.
