A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
As the 102nd Michigan Legislature wraps up its “lame duck” session this week with a flurry of bills yet to be voted on, we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy have been following along closely and have already celebrated several major policy wins for Michiganders. Among the legislation that has already passed, an important package of bills that will protect renters from discrimination by landlords based on their source of income will soon be headed to the governor’s desk.
The passage of Senate Bills 205-207 and House Bills 4062-4063 is a huge win for Michiganders, many of whom have, for far too long, been turned away from safe and affordable housing simply because of the way they planned to pay their rent. Pending the governor’s signature of these bills, a new law should be in effect by early next spring that will prohibit any Michigan landlord with five or more units from rejecting tenants who plan to make rental payments using non-wage sources of income, such as a Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) or veteran’s or social security benefits. We at the League have long advocated for this kind of statewide protection as we know that source-of-income discrimination has had dire consequences for veterans, disabled people, retired workers and Michigan families alike, especially those raising children.
When it comes to HCVs, specifically, data has shown that they are a proven tool in helping Michiganders face the serious housing affordability challenges in our state. In 2023, more than 66,000 income-eligible Michigan households in every county in the state—including 41% with children—were able to afford a safe place to live thanks to HCVs.
However, HCVs have not been as effective as they should be because of funding shortages that have resulted in long waiting periods—an average of 26 months—for income-qualifying families to receive them and a stringent time frame—usually under four months—in which they must then find a landlord willing to rent to them. The short timeframe combined with landlords’ unchecked ability to turn people away who use non-wage sources of income has led to many families ultimately losing their HCVs before they can use them.
Under the new legislation, families will not only face less barriers in using their HCVs, but will be able to more easily secure housing in lower-poverty neighborhoods with higher-performing schools and less exposure to environmental toxins. These are the very areas where HCV rejection rates have been shown to be the highest. Ultimately, this will result in better health outcomes for individuals and families as well as better educational outcomes and brighter futures for kids.
And because HCVs are disproportionately used by Black families as a direct result of our country’s long and deplorable history of discrimination and overt racism in the housing industry, this pending new law will also help put a stop to the racial discrimination that has continued to be perpetuated in the housing market in the absence of statewide source-of-income protections.
We applaud the Michigan Legislature for centering the needs of Michiganders with the passage of these bills and we’re so thankful for the many lawmakers and advocacy partners who were an integral part of getting this important legislation across the finish line. With more Michiganders able to secure safe, stable and affordable housing, we expect to see a positive ripple effect in schools and communities across our great state in the years to come.
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.
