Michigan lawmakers propose legislation to address housing shortage, affordability

Housing costs in Metro Detroit have become a significant burden for families, with average expenses exceeding $22,000 annually, consuming over 30% of household budgets. Home prices have escalated to about six times the average income due to a housing shortage exacerbated by restrictive building regulations. Bipartisan legislation aims to address this by facilitating easier and more affordable housing construction through measures such as allowing duplexes, reducing parking requirements, and expediting approval processes. State Representative Joseph Aragona, a co-author of the bill, is discussing its potential impact, although his colleague, Democrat Kristian Grant, was unable to attend.