RENTERS

Though often left out of the conversation, renters have been experiencing the same housing woes: Few options, extreme prices and limited timelines.

Though often left out of the conversation, renters have been experiencing the same housing woes: Few options, extreme prices and limited timelines.

It’s estimated nearly half of all renters in Michigan are paying too much, and that was before the pandemic. Renters paying more than 30% of their income are considered to be cost overburdened. This threshold was met by 48% of renters in 2019, according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s housing needs assessment.

TOWN SQUARE | The focus on including on-time rent payments is meant to help people with a limited credit history qualify for homeownership.

The latest Consumer Price Index backs up what renters already know: They are paying a lot more.

The federal moratorium on evictions, which was put in place early during the COVID pandemic, expired last month and put millions of renters at risk of losing their housing.

Debt charity StepChange is calling for emergency support for renters who have fallen behind on payments.

In April, Michigan introduced the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance program, which helps tenants and landlords with financial aid. Michigan still has about $500 million in unspent rental assistance grants.

Around 176,000 renter households had received assistance by the end of May, according to government data. However, more than 11 million renters are behind.

The state is rolling out a new online tool aimed at helping struggling renters stay in their homes.

The Biden administration has extended the federal eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021 – a reprieve again for renters behind in their payments.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State House Development Authority (MSHDA) announced a $282 million rental assistance program meant to help tenants who are struggling due to the COVID pandemic avoid eviction. The program is also meant to ensure that landlords can recoup owed rent. The COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program replaces the Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) that MSHDA launched in July. Landlords or tenants can apply for CERA. Tenants and landlords can also apply through their local service agency.

DETROIT – Michigan’s eviction moratorium officially expired, leaving hundreds or potentially thousands of of families at risk of being put out of their homes if they can’t afford to pay rent. In an effort to ease some of the strain, the city of Detroit was able to extend that moratorium for its residents. “If you’re working, you’ve got one set of options, but if you’re unemployed, the options change,” said Rodney Watts. Gretchen Whitmer’s statewide moratorium on evictions expired, the 36th District Court announced it would be extending that moratorium in the city of Detroit until Aug. 15. Duggan urged residents in need to visit the official Detroit Eviction Prevention Resources website.