Picket for Renters Rights in Lansing confronts the MSHDA-hosted conference attendees and their failure to center housing justice

On Tuesday, about 75 people held a picket out in front of the Lansing Center, just east of downtown Lansing, where people were attending a conference hosted by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

The picket was organized by the Rent is Too Damn High coalition, made up of people from across the state that are part of tenant unions and other housing justice groups. Inside the Lansing Center was a totally different crowd, made up of MSHDA staff members, bankers, non-profit housing groups, developers and other people who believe that the market will fix the housing crisis.  

The morning keynote speaker was a GOP Strategist and the closing keynote speakers were 2 guys who have a show on HGTV. Plus, all of the panel speakers were people who embrace the housing crisis from a market perspective. One of the panelists was Brooke Ossterman the Executive Director of Housing Next, an entity that was created by the GR Chamber of Commerce, which GRIID has previously written about.

I would also like to point out that MISHDA is essentially a mechanism that provides large public subsidies to developers and to non profit housing entities, what I like to call the Non-Profit Industrial Housing Complex, because they only want to provide piece meal housing solutions, but never want to address the root causes of the housing crisis. 

Before the conference happened, MSHDA got wind of the planned picket and sent a letter to the Rent is Too Damn High, trying desperately to present themselves as the “good guy.” The Rent is Too Damn High sent a response that read in part: 

Our choice to demonstrate at the Building Michigan Communities Conference was deliberate. As the leading state agency responsible for housing, MSHDA bears responsibility for housing conditions in the state of Michigan. As you acknowledge, the housing supply shortage remains severe. Most renters also lack any form of rent stabilization, right to renew their contracts, or right to counsel in eviction proceedings. Two million Michiganders with criminal or arrest records are subject to legalized discrimination in housing access, and others are discriminated against for their source of income. All of these factors are driving more renters into homelessness.

The response from the Rent is Too Damn High coalition also stated: 

We understand that you are trying, but for renters on the brink of eviction, it’s not enough. Our demonstration at the conference intends to raise the ambitions and increase the tangible actions of MSHDA, its nonprofit and municipal partners, and the governor. Only with uncommon courage, administrative creativity, and outspoken political leadership will this crisis be solved.

Throughout the four hour picket, some of the people who were attending the conference did come out to offer support or at least were willing to engage in conversation. However, there were also several people who came out to make nasty comments directed at those who were protesting.

The Rent is Too Damn High picket involved lots of chanting and some marching in from of the Lansing Center. There were a few banners and most of the picketers held up signs demanding Social Housing, Renters Rights, Housing First and Rent Control, which also happens to be the four main demands of the statewide coalition.

More importantly were the short speeches and testimonies made by people from across the state. There were people from Washtenaw County, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids who spoke about both the urgency of addressing the housing crisis from the perspective of renters and how the housing industry and the government has failed to seriously address the current housing crisis. All of the speakers had great things to say and help get the crowd pumped up during the nearly 4 hours of picketing.

The Rent is Too High coalition also talked about next steps and some upcoming actions for the rest of the year. They made it clear that despite the Democrats having control of the State Legislator they have not embraced housing justice nor the four demands by the coalition.

Lastly, people were encouraged to push for the passage of four pieces of legislation which would certainly benefit tenants and eliminate some barriers for those seeking secure housing.

• HB 4878 – Fair Housing for Returning Citizens
• HB 5237 – Tenants’ Right to Counsel
• SB 205-207; HB 4062-63 – End Source of Income Discrimination
• SB 801 – Expunge and Seal Eviction Records