Gina Thompson, Intern
Blog by Gina Thompson, Intern
During this period of social distancing, a place to call home can provide an additional layer of protection and safety. And these days, home has not just been where we live, but for many, where we work and where our kids go to school, too. It’s been our whole world for more than a year.
But not everyone has access to housing that affords them a safe place to call their own. And we need to change that.
That’s why the League is excited to announce our new Housing, Choice, and Opportunity campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The HCV program is a federal program that supports landlords by helping tenants with low incomes pay their rent on time. Be sure to tune into our social media every Thursday starting March 25 for quick facts about the important role of these housing vouchers in stabilizing our communities and the economy.
Across the state, many Michiganders are still struggling to find housing that is safe, quality, and affordable amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic due to the economic downturn. It is because of this that housing instability is also a public health crisis. Currently, 4 in 10 Michiganders with lower incomes are experiencing houselessness or pay more than half their income for rent, with 43,880 being children in unstable housing environments.
It is not just renters who are feeling the impact of instability and uncertainty. According to survey results, some property owners are struggling along with their renters. As of February 2021, 1 in 5 renters reported that they were behind on rent, meaning property owners cannot collect consistent payments. The most affected landlords own fewer than 10 properties, which can jeopardize their mortgage payments and supplemental income, forcing some to consider selling the property—a decision with ramifications that could last well beyond the pandemic.
While many are left dealing with instability and tough decisions, a fraction of property owners have been receiving consistent payments from their tenants by participating in the HCV program, which gives eligible families, people who are disabled, and seniors with low incomes the freedom to find privately-owned rental housing. Although this program is federally funded, local agencies administer voucher payments directly to landlords on behalf of tenants and oversee the process.
Unfortunately, there were already more people on the waiting list than available housing pre-COVID and the economic downturn has not made the affordable housing shortage any better. In Michigan, there are 272,900 people currently using vouchers to live in safe, affordable housing. Because this assistance reaches only 1 in 4 income-eligible renters, many are left on the waiting list.
Faced with the alternative of losing their investment, landlords may find that there are several benefits to accepting tenants who use housing vouchers with the primary incentive being timely and consistent payments. Another attractive benefit of accepting voucher recipients is that there will always be a prospective renter. In a world where every month an investment house sits empty means lost revenue, voucher properties will never sit empty because they are in such high demand.
In order to receive housing assistance, tenants must meet certain requirements established by the federal government. This adds an additional layer of background information that prospective tenants are able to provide before renting—another benefit for landlords.
Housing choice vouchers provide long-term dependability for landlords in addition to renters, and this can make all the difference during economic downtown. To learn more about the benefits to Michigan landlords and how they can participate, interested individuals can take a look at this e-brochure from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. And be sure to check in with the League every Thursday on our Facebook and Twitter pages and help us draw attention to this important service to help more residents find stable housing.
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.
