A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
Having a secure and healthy place to live means brighter futures for kids, families and communities, but far too many Michiganders cannot afford this very basic survival need because statewide source of income protections have yet to be put into place here in Michigan.
That could all soon change given that legislation (Senate Bills 205-207 and House Bills 4062 and 4063) is currently in the Michigan Legislature that would make it illegal for landlords to reject tenants who plan to make rent payments using federal Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) or other non-wage sources of income, such as social security and veteran’s benefits.
HCVs are a proven tool that have helped more than 65,000 Michigan households afford a safe place to live by offsetting the cost of the rent they pay to private landlords. Nearly two-thirds of these households have incomes under $15,000 a year, 4 in 10 of these households include children and 1 in 4 of these households include a person with a disability.
HCVs make it possible for these families to not only secure more safe and affordable housing, but also free up their hard-earned money to afford other basic needs, leading to better outcomes in health, school, work and economic security. They also are an important stimulus for the economy—generating more than $706,000,000 in revenue for Michigan landlords in 2022—and they promote a better quality of life overall in Michigan’s communities.
While HCVs have helped tens of thousands of Michigan families find suitable homes, they could be helping so many more. The effectiveness of HCVs have, unfortunately, been greatly diminished by funding shortages and discrimination by landlords. Many qualifying families never receive an HCV, and those that do spend an average of more than two years on a waiting list first. And once families do receive their voucher, we have heard time and time again that they find it difficult to find a landlord who will rent to them in the short timeframe that is permitted by the HCV program’s rules. What’s worse is that HCV acceptance rates are lowest in more affluent neighborhoods, where families have access to better housing, good schools, better jobs, clean air and water, and other features that greatly improve a family’s well-being.
While the legislation currently being considered by the Michigan Legislature won’t address the HCV program’s funding shortages, it will put a stop to the discrimination that families are facing simply for the way they plan to pay their rent. People think of housing discrimination as a part of our history, but it is very much alive and well when landlords can reject potential tenants based solely on their method of rent payment.
Discrimination based on source of income also has the greatest impact on households against whom it would otherwise be illegal to discriminate: families of color and those that include disabled people, older adults and children. This perpetuates racial health disparities and economic inequity.
We are hopeful that source of income discrimination is soon a thing of the past here in Michigan for the sake of families in our state who are struggling to get by and are looking for a stepping stone in pursuing self-sufficiency. Families typically use their vouchers for less than five years, during which time they are able to become more economically secure and exit the program. If vouchers were accepted by more landlords in well-resourced areas with better opportunities for health and upward mobility, just imagine how much more of a positive impact that would have on our state’s families and children.
The time is now for statewide source of income protections in Michigan.
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.
