For Immediate Release
March 4, 2022
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-775-9053
Housing advocates applaud bipartisan legislation to expunge eviction records
As problems with housing access and affordability persist, Michigan poised to be leader on helping residents move on from eviction
LANSING—Michigan advocates for safe and affordable housing applauded today’s introduction of Senate Bill 949, bipartisan legislation to allow for the expungement of eviction records after five years. The bill was introduced by Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), and includes a number of cosponsors, including three Republicans–Sen. Ed McBroom (Waucedah Twp.), Sen. Ken Horn (Frankenmuth) and Sen. Wayne Schmidt (Traverse City).
“The mere filing of an eviction case can haunt an entire family indefinitely, regardless of the circumstances or outcome of the case, and we are pleased to see this issue resonating with policymakers on both sides of the aisle and rural and urban areas alike,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Too many Michigan families already struggle to find safe housing that they can afford, and the stigma of a housing court record makes it virtually impossible for families recovering from a crisis, survivors of violent crimes, and people exploited by negligent or abusive landlords. Sen. Brinks’ legislation wisely balances landlords’ need for information about prospective tenants with fairness for renter families in meeting their essential housing needs.”
A number of organizations were involved in the discussion of this legislation, including the Michigan League for Public Policy, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Civil Justice, the Michigan Poverty Law Project and the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force. The bill strives to address the ongoing adverse impacts of an eviction filing on individuals, while also allowing the courts to make informed decisions on eviction expungements and factor in public interest.
“Access to stable housing is essential to the economic opportunity that we want to create in our communities,” said Joshua Lunger, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber. “This legislation supports our work with effective criminal justice reforms, as well as addresses the housing crisis that we face.”
“An eviction record does more than just impact someone’s ability to get housing, and this bill stands to have a positive ripple effect on all of Michiganders’ essential needs,” said Wende Randall, Director of the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force. “Unfortunately, employers often use eviction records as a way of categorizing a person as unstable or high risk, impeding residents in Kent County and around the state as they try to find a job and achieve financial stability. And these barriers compound, as a lack of stable housing or employment makes it even harder to put food on the table, pay for prescriptions and other health needs, pay for public transportation or gas, and more.”
The deck is stacked against renters in eviction court, where less than 5% of Michigan tenants have an attorney compared to 83% of landlords and a trial may last only a few minutes. Nearly a quarter of eviction records contain incomplete, ambiguous, or false information that locks families out of safe housing for years.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on innumerable renters in Michigan. Senate Bill 949, which will allow certain eviction records to be sealed, is a critical step towards providing much-needed relief for tenants who have faced eviction through no fault of their own,” said Greg Abler. “Moreover, all too often, tenants also face barriers to securing safe housing as a result of evictions that happened long ago. This bill would also protect tenants from old eviction records and judgments that have no bearing on who they are today. Center for Civil Justice supports Senate Bill 949, and is grateful for Sen. Brinks’ work in advancing these protections.”
Eviction almost always results in at least one downward move and, in the worst-case scenario, a displaced family may become homeless: a New York City study found that an eviction increased a household’s likelihood of living in a homeless shelter within the next two years by 14 percentage points.
“As policymakers look for concrete ways to address homelessness in Michigan, eviction expungement could have a major impact,” said Courtney Myers-Keaton, MPH, Continuum of Care Director at the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness. “In many cases, eviction can result in people literally being put out on the street, and as the court record sticks with them, it can make it nearly impossible for them to ever get back on their feet and find stable housing in the future–especially in a tight rental market.”
Eviction expungement was included as a policy recommendation in a 2019 Michigan League for Public Policy report, Detroit: The evolution of a housing crisis. The report found that in Detroit alone, there are nearly 30,000 evictions filed each year. Another report released in 2020 by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan shows that evictions are an issue in every part of the state, with a number of rural, and northern and Upper Peninsula counties having high rates of eviction as well.
###
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
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.
