Jocelyn Benson is calling for stronger state and federal collaboration to address Michigan’s housing shortage after touring a new affordable housing development in Lansing.
The project, led by the Lansing Housing Commission, aims to expand access to quality, affordable housing while integrating supportive services for residents.
During her visit, Benson met with Executive Director Douglas E. Fleming, who underscored the importance of government backing for projects like this.
He emphasized to her, Benson said after, “how critical state and federal support is for enabling communities like this to grow.”
Benson noted that the project reflects both progress and the scale of unmet demand.
“It’s quite an eye opener, not just to see the real quality and care that’s going into building these units, but also how many people want to be in them. He said in seven days, there is already a wait list of 2,500 people for 100 units, which is unreal,” Benson told reporters after the tour. “What that just really underscores is that we need to do stuff like this all around the state.”
Benson also used the visit to highlight inefficiencies across state agencies, suggesting improved coordination could streamline housing access and support systems.
“Our state agencies work often in silos, and sometimes we have data in one that could be useful for another,” she said. “It really also underscores to me the importance of our state agencies working in collaboration with one another to share data and to support people at every point, whether it’s in health and human services, housing or every point in between.”
One idea under consideration involves leveraging existing government data to simplify application processes for housing assistance programs—similar to potential reforms in Medicaid eligibility systems.
The Lansing development stands out not only for adding housing units but also for incorporating wraparound services designed to support long-term stability.
These include:
Benson praised this integrated approach, emphasizing that housing solutions must go beyond just construction.
“We know we do need to increase the supply of attainable housing,” she said. “This is a drop in the bucket, but a great, high quality drop in the bucket for that housing.”
Benson’s visit comes at a time of uncertainty around federal housing policy. Proposals linked to the Trump administration could restrict access to rental assistance for mixed-status immigrant households.
Additional proposals affecting programs under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could limit funding durations, potentially impacting millions of Americans.
Reports have suggested such changes could result in as many as 1.4 million people losing rental subsidies, further intensifying housing affordability challenges nationwide.
The Lansing tour is part of Benson’s broader housing platform, which she recently launched in Grand Rapids. Her plan focuses on:
The waitlist figures highlight a significant imbalance between available units and demand, a trend seen across many U.S. cities.
Projects like this demonstrate how public housing authorities play a critical role in maintaining a steady pipeline of affordable housing developments.
Affordable housing availability directly affects workforce stability, especially in growing metro areas.
Federal-level policy shifts could influence the viability of similar projects, particularly those reliant on subsidies and tax credits.
Benson’s visit reinforces a central theme in today’s housing debate: while construction projects are essential, systemic coordination, policy stability and sustained investment are equally critical.
As demand continues to surge, developments like Lansing’s may serve as a model—but also a reminder of how much further states must go to close the affordability gap.
Originally reported by Katherine Dailey in Michigan Advance.
