How can policymakers make housing affordable for families whose incomes do not cover the rent?
At Bridge Michigan's inaugural Issues Summit, Ford School professor Natasha Pilkauskas joined an economist, a municipal leader, and a homelessness-services practitioner to examine that challenge. Their discussion pointed toward a multifaceted response—one that expands housing supply while addressing economic insecurity and the barriers that prevent people from finding stable housing.
During "Political Promises and Pocketbook Realities: Housing, Wages and Affordability," moderated by Bridge Michigan Capitol Reporter Jordyn Hermani, Pilkauskas emphasized policies that address economic insecurity, including the expanded child tax credit.
"In my work [on the expanded child tax credit], we find for low-income families the place where we see the biggest sort of difference, other than food insecurity, is that they're actually more likely to be able to afford their rent," Pilkauskas said.
The Ford School was a premier sponsor of the October 21 summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit. Drawing on Bridge Michigan's yearlong Bridge Listens reporting initiative, the event brought residents, civic leaders, policymakers, and researchers together around issues identified by readers.
Read Bridge Michigan's reporting on the housing panel and watch the summit video on Bridge Michigan's website.
