Advancing Housing Equity: Partnership Over Preemption

December 17, 2025

The Michigan Municipal League has proposed the MI Home Program, which would allocate $160 million per year over five years to develop and renovate 10,000 affordable homes across Michigan. The program emphasizes "Partnership Over Preemption," giving local governments funding and flexibility to address housing shortages in ways that reflect their communities' specific needs rather than imposing top-down state mandates. The Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials has endorsed this approach, viewing it as a means to promote equity and empower historically overlooked communities.

Who is affected

Michigan communities facing housing shortages
Local governments across Michigan
Black municipal officials and the communities they serve
Communities of color that have been historically overlooked
Michigan families across different races, income levels, and ZIP codes
Housing developers who would partner with local governments

What action is being taken

The Michigan Municipal League has proposed the MI Home Program. MBC-LEO is supporting the program and its guiding principle of "Partnership Over Preemption."

Why it matters

Housing serves as the foundation for public health, education, workforce participation, and community stability. The partnership approach offers an alternative to historical state and federal mandates that have limited local flexibility and context-specific solutions. For communities of color specifically, this collaborative model demonstrates that state leaders are listening and empowering local voices rather than overriding them, which helps address historical inequities and ensures that solutions reflect each community's unique identity and values.

What's next

MBC-LEO members are committed to working with the Michigan Municipal League, the Legislature, and the Administration to see the MI Home Program enacted and fully funded.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle