November is a critical time in terms of public policy: not only are we wrapping up an election season in which candidates of all political stripes bombarded us with promises to fight for us and our families, it’s also Homelessness Awareness Month. With the United States heading toward a new record for homelessness this year and just a few days remaining in the legislative session, time is running out to pass a slate of bills that would make rental housing more accessible and affordable.
Everyone knows that Michiganders, including the 1 in 4 households who rent, are facing serious challenges related to housing affordability. A minimum-wage earner must work 72 hours every week — nearly two full-time jobs — to afford a one-bedroom apartment. With our long history of systemic racism and ableism, the current housing crisis is taking its greatest toll on families of color and those that include disabled people.
We at the Michigan League for Public Policy applaud Gov. Whitmer and our state Legislature for making historic investments in building new homes and rehabbing older ones to increase supply and bring down costs.
But that’s only part of the solution.
On Nov. 13, the Rent is Too Damn High coalition, including allies Detroit Action, We the People Michigan, the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, and local tenant groups brought hundreds of people together in Lansing to demand action on another key element: strengthening rights for more than one million Michigan renter families.
A set of proposed bills, dubbed the “Housing Homestretch” legislation, would ensure that tenants are treated with honesty and fairness. The bills would protect renters from discrimination based on their source of income and old conviction records, unfair and illegal evictions, outrageous fees, and dangerous property conditions.
The need for these bills is urgent.
Evictions and homelessness are on the rise following the end of COVID-19 relief funds, and the incoming Donald Trump administration further threatens our access to safe, stable housing.
Project 2025 (an extremist agenda written for Trump to carry out) calls for a return to laws that allow discrimination in housing, the elimination of consumer protections in mortgage lending and the defunding of federal programs that serve families the private housing market will not.
More broadly, Project 2025 and Trump’s economic plans will lower incomes for working families to give tax breaks to the wealthy, while raising costs for basic needs like groceries.
President-elect Trump has also voiced plans to force homeless people into internment camps and jail those who resist.
Just this summer, the Trump majority on the U.S. Supreme Court gave its blessing to local ordinances that criminalize people for experiencing homelessness — even when there isn’t enough shelter space in the community.
Criminalization doesn’t reduce homelessness or make our communities safer. It just makes it harder for struggling people to stay employed, get healthcare they desperately need, and maintain connections with people and services that support them in getting back on their feet.
None of this is war on homelessness; it’s a war on homeless people.
Because harsh policies are ineffective in reducing homelessness, they also harm the larger community. State and local governments have to shoulder the exorbitant costs of the criminal legal system, emergency housing services, camp clean-ups, health care and foster care.
Talk is cheap; homelessness is not. There’s a short window in which to show us that campaign-season words weren’t empty promises. It’s time for people over profits, and housing, not hurdles.
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.
