Housing Next has been appointed the spokesperson on the GR Housing crisis, but they only provide false solutions

Within the past month, the local news media has anointed the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce-created group, Housing Next, as the “official” spokesperson on the current housing crisis in Grand Rapids.

For example, check out these stories from WOODTV8 from January 12 and January 19th. In these stories the channel 8 reporter talks to Housing Next staff, some developers, people with the Grand Rapids Planning Commission and a few housing non-profits. These groups identify the current housing shortage and even issues around affordability, but the solutions they offer are reformist at best and ultimately false solutions. 

The “solution” to the current housing crisis, according to Housing Next, involves local government, developers and non-profits. The fact of the matter is, Housing Next offers no real solution to the housing crisis, only the same old model, the market. This is not a solution or maybe more aptly named a false solution. This is because under a market system, housing is nothing more than a commodity that can be bought and solid to make profits. For the Chamber and those sectors of society who believe in the market, housing is not a fundamental human right.  Housing within a market economy, particularly home ownership, is for those who can afford it, which leaves out millions of people in the US alone. 

If you want to understand who is really behind the Housing Next effort, along with the ideological framework they operate under, just look at the list of “community partners” in the graphic above.

Last week, Housing Next sent out an Email encouraging people to attend the Grand Rapids planning commission meeting, in order to adopt some new zoning recommendations. All of these recommendations were reformist and none of them would address the structural issues that are central to the current housing crisis. 

In addition, the so-called community partners that Housing Next was inviting to pressure the GR Planning Commission on these false housing solutions consisted on landlords and Property Management Companies, along with people like Greg McNeilly. McNeilly is the CEO & President of the Windquest Group, which is part of Dick and Betsy DeVos’ empire. In his letter to the Grand Rapids Planning Commission, McNeilly used trending terms like “upzoning” to try to influence the planning commissioners.

Not surprising, the Grand Rapids Planning Commission adopted the recommendations from Housing Next, which will eventually have to be approved by the Grand Rapids City Commission.

These false solutions are similar to what Michigan Governor Whitmer announced recently. The statewide coalition known as The Rent is Too Damn High, responded to Whitmer’s housing proposal by stating: 

Here’s the truth: Behind the headlines, the Governor’s housing plan is mostly more of the same. It relies on huge giveaways to corporate landlords to build more housing. Landlords are sitting at the table to make these policies; organized renters are not. A small increase in affordable housing is a step to relieve the pain for some, but the rent is going to stay too damn high until we change the power relations at the heart of our housing system. That’s why we’re organizing to build power and demanding the solutions that renters deserve.

This is exactly what the Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union believes. In fact, the local tenant union believes that it is impossible to address the current housing crisis unless two things are done. First, housing must be taken out of the market and be made a right, where massive amounts of public money can be used to construct Social Housing. Second, until there is greater economic justice, there will always be a housing crisis. According to the most recent data from the Low Incoming Housing Coalition, for people living in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming area, they need to earn $25.50 an hour to afford the average cost of rent in this market. People need to make a living wage, otherwise there will continue to be a large class of people who will continue to not be able to afford rent or the option to purchase a home.

Lastly, as a counter to the false solution narrative of groups like Housing Next, the Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union will be hosting a Tenant Assembly on April 13th in order to not only inform tenants of their rights, but to build power amongst tenants as a means to challenge the power of landlords and property management companies. Check out the flyer included here and check the Facebook page of the Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union to find out how to register for the Tenant Assembly. You can also send an Email to the GR Area Tenant Union to request a registration form, at gratunion@gmail.com.