LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation on Friday, November 12, declaring November 2021 as Homeless Awareness Month in Michigan.
“Every Michiganders deserves a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Whitmer. “Housing is about so much more than a roof over your head. It’s also about the dignity, stability and opportunity that a home provides. In Michigan, we made great progress in reducing homelessness by 19% last year, but there is still work to be done, and I have a plan to make critical investments in affordable housing to increase access and opportunity.”
In her Michigan New Economy Plan, Governor Whitmer laid out a goal of having 75,000 new or rehabilitated housing units within the next five years: A transformational investment designed to put Michiganders first by expanding access to safe and affordable housing, helping close equity gaps, and supporting the development of vibrant communities.
“With coordination of federal, state and local resources and the unwavering support of our partners, we made great strides in reducing homelessness during an unprecedented time in Michigan’s history,” said Kelly Rose, MSHDA’s chief housing solutions officer and chair of the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. “Taking what we learned during these most challenging of circumstances will guide us as we chart a course for bringing a functional end to homelessness–making it rare, brief and non-recurring.”
Earlier this year, Whitmer announced her proposal that would assist 6,000 Michiganders, produce 2,000 rental housing units, and leverage an additional $380 million in private funding, while creating 1,600 jobs.
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