2026 House Resolution 270

Whereas, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) defines affordability for renters as paying no more than 30 percent of household income toward housing costs, including rent and utility bills; and

Whereas, Michigan continues to face a housing affordability crisis, and according to the Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, 51 percent of renters in this state were housing cost-burdened in 2022, meaning they spent more than 30 percent of household income on housing costs, and 26 percent were severely cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 50 percent of household income on housing costs; and

Whereas, These conditions threaten household economic stability, public health, educational continuity, and the long-term strength of communities across this state; and

Whereas, Public housing plays a critical role in providing affordable accessible housing for vulnerable populations, including low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities; and

Whereas, For nearly a century, public housing has provided essential shelter and stability to the most vulnerable populations, including low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, and experts attribute such stability to increased health outcomes, educational attainment, and economic mobility; and

Whereas, Nationwide, approximately 3,300 public housing agencies manage public housing serving about 970,000 households, and much of this housing stock is aging and in desperate need of preservation and modernization; and

Whereas, The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities published a 10-year road map in October 2025 that estimated a baseline investment of $169.1 billion is needed to preserve and modernize existing public housing nationwide; and

Whereas, Increased investment must be paired with strong oversight and accountability to ensure that public housing remains safe, habitable, and responsive to resident needs; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development administers federal funding to public housing agencies and maintains oversight authority to enforce compliance with applicable federal health, safety, and habitability requirements; and

Whereas, Federal housing standards require HUD-assisted housing to be free of health and safety hazards, and Michigan law provides residential tenants with protections requiring premises and common areas to be fit for their intended use, kept in reasonable repair, and maintained in compliance with applicable health and safety laws; and

Whereas, Michigan law authorizes cities, villages, townships, and counties to create and operate housing commissions to address local housing needs; and

Whereas, Michigan law provides all renters, including those in public housing, the right to safe and habitable living conditions; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we strongly urge the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to increase investment in the preservation, rehabilitation, and modernization of existing public housing and to support the development of additional affordable public housing units; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to use its full oversight and enforcement authority to ensure that local public housing agencies comply with all applicable federal health, safety, and habitability standards; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to use all resources available to further invest in affordable subsidized housing in Michigan and to use all tools available under state law or through federal partnership to ensure public housing authority compliance with all state landlord-tenant laws and regulations; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Executive Director Michigan State Housing Development Authority.