On May 19 Ann Arbor City Council approved the city's FY26 budget, which begins July 1, 2025. In the budget, $565K is allocated for the renewal of the Rising Hope for Housing program with funds collected from the Marijuana Excise Tax Rebate.

The proposed FY26 budget was first shared by the City Administrator at the April 21 Council meeting (watch meeting) which outlined around $600K in excise tax rebate funding available for City Council to decide how to spend. Staff from Washtenaw Housing Alliance joined other grant partners of the program to provide public comment at the May 5 and May 19 meetings in a joint effort to ensure the Rising Hope program would be renewed and fully funded in FY26. Please join us in thanking Mayor Taylor and City Council for renewing this program and increasing their investment in it!

Dear Council member [Name], 

Thank you for approving the renewal of the Rising Hope for Housing program in the city's FY26 budget. I am grateful for your support and willingness to aim higher to support justice-involved individuals with housing and supports. I am confident this support will be used to enhance Rising Hope for Housing and provide more direct assistance to those in need.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Rising Hope is a collaborative program of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance and five grant partner organizations to help justice-impacted households avoid eviction and improve housing stability and self-sufficiency. In FY24 the program’s pilot was funded at $400K, and in FY25 it was renewed at $500K. We are grateful the program will continue in FY26 at $565K.

The Rising Hope for Housing program is open to receive referrals now through June 30th. For more information and to see if you may qualify, please check out the flyer below.

Rising Hope for Housing Flyer for those applying (pdf)

Those in support of “Ann Arbor for All,” the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, can sign this petition as well as visit the Neighbors For More Neighbors website for more ways to get involved.

The City of Ann Arbor is charting its course for affordable, sustainable, equitable and dynamic land uses for the next 25 years. The Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan draft is available for public review on the new online platform for city projects, Engage Ann Arbor (EA2), at plan.a2gov.org/plan24. Here, community members can also find project information, timeline and recordings, and materials from previous meetings for the comprehensive plan project.

The city invited the public to learn about and share input for the draft Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Three engagement sessions were scheduled in April and May 2025 to review and discuss the plan draft with planning staff, ask questions, and provide feedback. The city also gathered feedback and held public meetings and workshops throughout 2024 to aid in the development of the plan draft.

The City’s Planning Commission reviewed the draft in April and May 2025. Starting this summer, the plan will begin the adoption process with the draft scheduled to go to City Council for a final decision in November 2025.

Neighbors for More Neighbors A2 is a group of Ann Arbor area neighbors who believe in a more inclusive, more open, friendlier Ann Arbor. NFMNA2 is a special project under the WHA.

NFMNA2 supports Ann Arbor for All (the Comp Plan). Join in showing your support!

1. Request a Neighbors for More Neighbors yard sign.

2. Sign the petition in support of increased housing density and diversity in Ann Arbor.

3. Write an email to City Council (citycouncil@a2gov.org) and Planning Commission (planning@a2gov.org) sharing your story of housing in Ann Arbor and expressing support for more housing--including duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings--in the residential neighborhoods that are close to downtown and close to public transit. Share what housing abundance means to you. You can share your story even if you do not live in Ann Arbor! It is just as important to share why someone who wants to live in the city is unable to because of the city’s unaffordability.

4. Attend (in-person or virtually) a City Council or Planning Commission meeting.

Sign on here.

It is going to take all of us working together to end homelessness in our community. Pledge your commitment to advocate and fight for affordable housing in Washtenaw County.

Sign up here.

The Advocacy & Communications Committee is vital in supporting the WHA’s local, state, and federal advocacy actions as well as amplifying communication alerts. This committee typically meets virtually several times in the year.

On February 21st, 2025, the WHA joined Continuum of Care (CoC) partners to host a Community Debrief recapping the 100-Day Challenge we collaborated on between late September 2024 and January 23rd, 2025.

The Challenge, part of our community's work with the Built For Zero movement, was designed to bring together community leaders, service providers, advocates, and other individuals to accelerate progress on achieving an end to Veteran homelessness. Our goals were:

• Identify barriers Veterans face when seeking housing, specifically through feedback from Veterans with lived experience, and help remove those barriers.

• Expand our community partnerships.

• Engage with landlords willing to provide safe and affordable housing for Veterans.

• Reduce the number of Veterans entering the homeless system through expansion of prevention and diversion services.

By the end of the Challenge, 25 Veterans experiencing homelessness were permanently housed. And! The number of unhoused Veterans tracked on our system's By-Name-List stayed under 20 during each month of the Challenge, down from the monthly high of 25 in 2023.

To read the full recap about the Community Debrief and the 100-Day Challenge click here.

On September 4th, 2024 the Winter Shelter Task Force presented to County Commissioners about shelter and warming center response plans for the upcoming winter season.  The recording of the presentation as well as the full session can be watched here. The presentation slide deck can be viewed here.

The Task Force is a collaboration of over 25 individuals from close to 20 organizations and county offices who participate in the County’s Continuum of Care.  It was created in April 2023 to:

• Help analyze existing data and programs for winter shelter,

• Research best practices for providing winter shelter in our Michigan climate,

• Develop strategies and recommendations, and

• Identify funding necessary to provide winter sheltering for all populations.

Following the Task Force's presentation last October, County Commissioners passed a resolution to support additional investments in homeless programs for that upcoming winter.  WHA was grateful for the passing of the $2.18M resolution which supported investments in eviction prevention and shelter diversion, winter shelter staffing and support, and short-term hoteling.  Thank you to everyone who supported our call for advocacy to help get this resolution passed!

Advocacy via CSH

The Michigan House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Services and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Department of Health and Human Services Subcommittee are making critical decisions about the FY26 budget. Your voice is essential to ensuring that $25 million is allocated annually to the Michigan Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF).

Ensure Supportive Housing Funding in Michigan's FY 2026 Budget and Beyond!

Supportive housing is a proven solution that combines affordable housing with essential services to help individuals with extremely low incomes and complex service needs achieve stability. The legislature appropriated $6 million in the FY23 budget for a supportive services pilot program and a one-time $20 million influx last year. Early results show a 99% housing stability rate among 470 households served. This funding also allowed providers to improve service quality and reduce staff burnout. 

These outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of continued funding. Based on ongoing need, an annual $25 million appropriation starting FY26 is critical. This will ensure supportive housing providers have the necessary ongoing funding to provide consistent services to supportive housing residents.

TAKE ACTION: CONTACT SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!

We urge you to contact the members of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Services and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Department of Health and Human Services Subcommittee. Ask them to include $25 million in the FY26 budget and annually thereafter to support the Michigan Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF).

Your voice makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that everyone in Michigan has access to the supportive services they need to thrive.

Use CSH's one-click email to reach out to members of each subcommittee at https://www.votervoice.net/CSH/Campaigns/125280/Respond

On December 30th, 2024 Governor Whitmer signed the source of income (SOI) non-discrimination Senate bills into state law (the House bills were signed on January 16th, 2025). The new statewide tenant protection under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act took effect on April 2nd, 2025.

Since April 2nd, source of income is now a protected class under the Elliott-Larsen Act. This means that landlords with five or more rentals must accept non-wage sources of income such as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), veterans’ benefits, alimony, MDHHS cash assistance, or SSI/SSDI as part of a tenant’s legal total combined income. Previous to the new law, this type of non-discrimination was only protected in the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti in Washtenaw County.

Landlords and tenants wanting more information about the new protected class can watch Michigan Department of Civil Rights’ Fair Housing Law and Renters’ Rights webinar recording. The webinar breaks down what source of income is and what can be considered discriminatory. Other available materials from the webinar include:

• Civil Rights Enforcement Presentation by the Office of Legal Affairs (link here)

• Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications in Housing by the Disability Rights and Compliance Division (link here)

Landlords and tenants can also visit these Fair Housing Center webpages for more details on source of income protections:

• Fair Housing Center of Southeast and Mid-Michigan Source of Income webpage and downloadable Fact Sheet. If you have any questions about your fair housing rights, please call their office at 877-979-FAIR (3247).

• Fair Housing Center of West Michigan downloadable Fact Sheet.

This month staff from WHA participated in Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness’ Homelessness Advocacy Day. We joined Avalon Housing staff, Avalon Housing VOCAL members, and Shelter Association of Washtenaw County staff in meeting with MI House Representatives Carrie Rheingans and Jennifer Conlin who we thanked for their support in getting statewide source of income protections passed in the last legislative session as well as continuing their work to introduce and support housing-related bills. We also shared key legislative asks we need their help on.

We are grateful for the time the Representatives took to meet with all of us - they are genuinely attentive to the housing-related matters we are focused on here in Washtenaw County. In addition to reiterating the housing unaffordability and the rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the county, we also shared about:

• the critical need to continue appropriating in the state’s budget funds for supportive services for permanent housing at or above the current funding level.

• the pause in receiving new housing choice vouchers through MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) and the fear of people losing their current vouchers because of funding and staff cuts at HUD.

• the opportunity to further invest state funds into cost-saving diversion and prevention programs that directly support individuals and families in finding stability outside of utilizing a shelter.

The WHA created the video Improving the Tenant Experience in Michigan to highlight what more can be done to improve a tenant's housing experience in our state.  Certainly more affordable housing is needed, but so too are laws to protect tenants from "junk fees" when applying for or renting housing or even to expunge their eviction records from long ago.

Read recent progress update here.

In July 2024 MCTEH provided progress updates on its 2023-2025 State Action Plan.  The MCTEH Action Plan outlines six (6) key goals that establish the parameters for what it will take to work toward ending homelessness in Michigan over the next three (3) years.

Advocacy via Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), PolicyLink, and National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA)

Take action today by submitting public comment on HUD’s (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) new Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) Interim Final Rule by May 2nd.

The AFFH says it is not enough to just outlaw discrimination, we have to undo the lasting, structural harms that were caused by discrimination. An explainer on the AFFH is here at policylink.org/our-work/housing/affh/explainer.

The new HUD rule removes AFFH accountability provisions and weakens the current system of reporting. Unlike previous requirements, jurisdictions will not need to provide detailed reports or justifications to demonstrate compliance.

Steps to submit a public comment:

1. Go to the Federal Register page for “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Revisions” (link here)

   Document Headings:

   Department of Housing and Urban Development

   24 CFR Parts 5, 91, 92, 570, 574, 576, and 903

   [Docket No. FR-6519-I-01]

   RIN 2529-AB08

2. Click on the green button "Submit A Public Comment" (link here)

3. Insert your comment

   Your comment can be as short or as long as you want. Write your reactions to the new rule in a way that reflects your personal experiences and the ways existing inequities or housing justice solutions have impacted you and your community. Use NFHA’s comment template for ideas of what to say.

Advocacy via National Low Income Housing Coalition

Take Action here TODAY!

The Trump Administration is expected to release a fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget proposal by mid-May, with an outline – known as a “skinny budget” – expected later in April. The budget is expected to propose massive spending cuts to HUD’s vital affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs, including a significant overhaul of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that would likely result in a decrease in the number of assisted households.  

Every year, the Administration submits a budget request to Congress in advance of the annual appropriations process. Only Congress has the power to provide funding for federal programs, so the president’s budget request does not carry any legal weight but it does provide an opportunity for the Administration to signal their priorities in the fiscal year ahead. The anticipated “skinny budget” will likely provide topline funding requests for each of the 12 appropriations bills for FY26, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill that funds HUD’s vital affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs. The mid-May request will provide fuller details about how the Trump Administration would fund individual federal programs.  

Recent reports indicate Administration officials may be considering proposals to make direct cuts to and “block grant” the HCV program. The HCV program receives funding every year appropriated by Congress to carry out various elements of the program, including voucher renewals, administrative costs, and the creation of new vouchers. A block grant provides states and localities with a pot of funding that can be used for multiple purposes; by allowing states and localities to shift funding from voucher renewals or the creation of new vouchers to other purposes, block granting the HCV program would effectively act as a cut to the number of vouchers available to assist households in need.  

During his first term, President Trump repeatedly called for massive spending cuts to HUD programs, including deep cuts to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that, if enacted, would have taken housing assistance away from 200,000 households who rely on their HCV to keep a roof over their heads. The previous Trump Administration also pushed Congress to enact policies that would increase barriers to accessing housing assistance, including work requirements, time limits, and minimum rent increases on HUD-assisted households. However, thanks to advocates and congressional champions who worked tirelessly to protect HCVs and other vital HUD programs, these proposed cuts and policy changes were never enacted. NLIHC is expecting these threats to be raised again as FY26 negotiations take shape.  

The need for additional funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher program 

In addition to the need for increased funding in FY26 to cover the cost of HCV renewals, Congress will need to provide funding to ensure the 60,000 households who receive an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) do not lose their assistance. The EHV program was created in the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” which provided $5 billion for 60,000 new tenant-based rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to people experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness, including people escaping intimate partner violence. The EHV program mandates that public housing authorities (PHAs), which are responsible for administering the program, work with their local Continuums of Care (CoCs) to identify people and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness and connect them to an EHV, plus wrap-around services when needed for long-term housing stability.  

The EHV program has been extremely successful, helping almost 60,000 people and families – and in particular families with children – find and maintain stable housing. While funding for the program was originally slated to last until 2030, the rapid increase in the cost of rent over the last four years has caused funding to run out much more quickly than expected. Unless additional funding is allocated by Congress, HUD estimates that funding for the program will likely run out in 2026.   

Take Action  

As Congress beings their work on FY26, NLIHC will continue to monitor developments and provide updated materials for advocates to take action and demand increased funding for HUD’s vital programs in any final FY26 spending bill.  

Urge Congress to pass a FY26 spending bill with increased funding for HUD’s affordable housing and homelessness programs!

Use NLIHC’s toolkits and resources to take action on FY26 funding, including by: 

• Emailing or calling members’ offices to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. You can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices or call/send an email directly!

• Sharing stories of those directly impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Storytelling adds emotional weight to your message and can help lawmakers see how their policy decisions impact actual people. Learn about how to tell compelling stories with this resource. 

National, state, local, tribal, and territorial organizations can also join over 2,300 organizations on CHCDF’s national letter calling on Congress to support the highest level of funding possible for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources in FY26.

Anticipating possible raids seeking undocumented immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at homeless service providers and shelters, the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) offers practical guidance for service providers about what to do before, during, and after any such attempted raid to protect both your staff and clients from harm.

What to do Before an Enforcement Action:

• Understand current NHLC Guidance and provide training on the basics to Staff

• Designate space as public and non-public accordingly

• Understand the difference between a judicial warrant and an ICE administrative warrant

• Understand how to handle the collection and retention of client information

• Understand how to respond to requests for information for immigration enforcement purposes

• Put up Know Your Rights poster (Exhibit to NHLC Guidance)

What to do During an Enforcement Action:

• Stay calm, treat the officers with respect, and notify a supervisor

• Document the officers’ names and badge numbers

• Inform the officers that they do NOT have consent to enter private areas

• If they claim to have a warrant to enter, ask to see it and check that it is signed by a Judge or Magistrate

• OK to Remind clients of their right to remain silent and to speak with a lawyer if detained or arrested

• OK to Videotape but do not interfere with the officers

What to do After an Enforcement Action:

• Document the actions taken by ICE

• Date/Time of Action

• How many agents/Names/Contact information

• How did the agents’ uniforms identify them? ICE or police?

• Why did they say they were at the facility?

• Did you ask to see a judicial warrant?

• Did you deny consent to enter?

• Use the ICE/Police Immigration Enforcement Report Form (Exhibit in the NHLC Guidance)

Best way to make sure your organization’s response to ICE doesn’t feel like an emergency, is to make a routine preparing all service provider staff in knowing what to do. Practice, practice, practice!

On June 28th, 2024 the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision in the case of Johnson v. Grants Pass. SCOTUS ruled in favor of the City of Grants Pass, Oregon. Under the ruling, localities will be able to arrest, ticket, and fine people for sleeping outdoors on public property, even if leaders have failed to produce enough affordable housing or shelter for everyone in the community who needs it. In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor stated, "...the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested."

“This decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). Read NAEH's factsheet for more information about the importance (and cost savings) of investing in Housing First initiatives rather than inflict punishment on those experiencing homelessness.

There are many proven and data-backed solutions to homelessness, like providing people with housing and services. Arresting or otherwise punishing homeless folks is not a solution, and jails and fines make the cycle of homelessness worse. In response to the ruling, the National Homeless Law Center held a webinar to provide guidance on where we all go from here: watch here.

Homes Guarantee is an historic campaign organizing for a National Tenant Bill of Rights.  Everyone living in the U.S. should have safe, accessible, sustainable, and permanently affordable housing: a Homes Guarantee. This includes tenants like renters, unhoused people, and mortgage holders.

What's your boldest vision for a National Tenants' Bill of Rights? Share your vision here. Want to host your own Imagination Session with friends, family and neighbors? Download the toolkit here.

NLIHC released a toolkit offering recommendations for lawmakers working to enact eviction record sealing and expungement legislation in their jurisdictions.  Read more and download the toolkit here.

NAEH provides the most important legislative priorities in real time.  Sign up for NAEH’s advocacy alerts here.

Fair Housing Center of Southeast and Mid-Michigan has several advocacy opportunities to support.  Consider volunteering as a civil rights tester or represent FHC as a cooperating attorney.  Find out more information at fhcmichigan.org/get-involved.

MCAH is helping to engage low-income and housing insecure individuals with registering to vote (registration application here). From 2010 to 2020, individuals earning over $100k were twice as likely to vote as individuals earning under $20k, and only around 10% of homeless individuals voted. Let’s make sure everyone’s voice is represented. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th, 2024.

Voter registration deadlines in Michigan:

• Online registration deadline: 15 days before Election Day

• Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked 15 days before Election Day

• In person registration deadline: Available up to and including on Election Day

County Commissioners passed a resolution to support additional investments in homeless programs for the 2023-2024 winter at their Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 meeting. WHA is grateful for the passing of the $2.18M resolution which will support investments in eviction prevention and shelter diversion, winter shelter staffing and support, and short-term hoteling. Thank you to everyone who supported our call for advocacy to help get this resolution passed! Read more…

On March 21st, 2023 the City of Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan for WHA member agencies’ Ann Arbor Housing Commission (AAHC) and Avalon Housing 70-unit mixed-use affordable housing development at 121 S. Catherine Street.  Read more here on the community engagement process that is guiding the property’s development in the historic Black business district in Kerrytown.

Ypsilanti City Council approved the second and final reading of the PILOT for the 206-210 N. Washington Street development on April 4th, 2023.  City Council’s approval enables Avalon Housing to move forward on their plans to bring 22 new one-bedroom apartments to this property site.  All units will be affordable and some are set to become supportive housing, providing built-in services like medical care, education and job training as well as transportation particularly for those exiting homelessness.  Developers expect to break ground in early 2024.

Read more on this exciting affordable housing project from The Michigan Daily: Everything you need to know about affordable housing at 121 Catherine St (February 19, 2024) and from MLive: Ann Arbor to break ground on Kerrytown affordable housing development in spring (February, 5, 2024).

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners reviewed and approved funding for seven (7) agencies to receive New Human Services Partnership (NHSP) - Safety Net grants (see the Resolution with award grants here).  Due to advocacy from WHA and our partners, the Board also approved new, continued funding for 6-months for agencies previously funded through the Coordinated Funding model and which were not recommended for NHSP awards. Here is the resolution, that was introduced and approved during that meeting, which provides the continued funding for agencies for another 6-months.

Ann Arbor City Council voted to allocate the $24M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and as part of that package, they supported:

• $1M for housing for the homeless

• $3.5M for property acquisition for affordable housing, including up to $500,000 for supportive services for tenants

• $1.68M in additional funding for Coordinated Funding support

• As well as $3.5M for an unarmed police response, and $1.6M for a basic income pilot program!

In the same April session, City Council also voted to rezone the Old Y-Lot at 350 S. Fifth as a Planned United Development (PUD), making it possible to move forward with development that will create more new affordable housing units!

Ann Arbor voters passed the Affordable Housing Millage with 73% support!  Prop-C provides a 20-year, 1-mill tax for affordable housing and related services that will generate approximately $6.5M in funding.  It provides funding to create approximately 1,500 units of affordable housing, with a portion dedicated to those in need of permanent supportive housing.  Thank you to all who donated their time, talent and treasures to ensure the passage of Proposal C, including WHA staff, Board members, member agencies, volunteers, and supporters.  We also want to thank everyone involved with Partners for Affordable Housing for running an incredible campaign!