A version of this column originally appeared in the Alpena News
Related: Read the League’s latest report on the importance of affordable energy
When my daughter was two, she came down with what we assumed was an ordinary cold. Within two days, her condition got worse and she was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Not long before, a colleague’s infant child had been hospitalized due to RSV, so I was afraid of what might be in store for my own family.
Much to my relief, such drastic measures weren’t necessary. My daughter received a breathing treatment at the doctor’s office and we left with a prescription for a nebulizer so we could continue the treatments at home.
The impact was amazing. Every treatment was like Popeye’s spinach for her and within a few days, she was back to her normal self, tiring her parents out with her boundless energy.
As someone with a professional focus on the social determinants of health, I couldn’t help but think about how the outcome might have been very different if our family were struggling to pay for the electricity that powered that nebulizer.
Household energy security has remained on my mind as COVID-19 has sickened nearly 900,000 Michiganders—myself included. Utility service was crucial to my survival and recovery—I switched between heat and air conditioning as my body swung between fever and chills. I awoke multiple times every night and turned on the lights to take medication that kept me out of the emergency room. I took long, hot showers to get temporary relief from the sore muscles, pounding headaches and menacing pressure in my chest.
In the League’s new policy brief, Empowering Families Through Affordable Energy, we explore the critical role of home energy service in our health, our ability to succeed in school and at work, and the economic security of our families.
Unaffordable utility bills tie into larger issues of housing quality and why it’s difficult for so many Michigan families to find a safe place to live. They’re also a testament to the enduring impact of historical and ongoing housing and economic discrimination, which disproportionately channels people of color into older, energy-inefficient homes. This means Black and Brown families must spend a larger share of their income on utility bills, often forgoing other basic needs like food and healthcare to avoid service disconnection and eviction.
Many housing quality issues that lead to energy waste also present risks to health and safety, so residents may face a greater risk of hypo- and hyperthermia and asthma triggers. In particular, poor housing quality and barriers to energy access can have dire consequences for the health of older adults, people with disabilities and young children.
Ensuring safe homes and energy security for all families is one way to advance equity so all Michiganders can survive and thrive—especially as we experience more frequent weather extremes like polar vortexes and summer heat waves, and the COVID-19 crisis widens existing health, academic and economic disparities.
A patchwork of state and federal programs supports family health with utility bill payment and energy efficiency improvements, but the total amount available isn’t enough to address the structural problems in the housing stock and the economy that make basic needs unaffordable for so many families. The League’s policy brief outlines some ways lawmakers can help Michiganders with their utility costs, including: expanding utility shutoff protections to households with young children; increasing funding for home repairs that promote health and safety; establishing a pilot program to study the impact of energy efficiency improvements on housing stability, health outcomes and healthcare costs for Medicaid enrollees; and promoting income-based utility bills for households with low incomes.
The energy that powers our lights, water heaters and furnaces also empowers our families. Check out the brief to learn about our state-level policy solutions to improve existing assistance programs, address the immediate energy needs of households in crisis, and promote long-term energy security through housing justice.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
