Habitat for Humanity of Michigan Supports Call to Put “Promise Before Profit” in Housing
Statewide organization urges Michigan’s next administration to prioritize affordable homeownership and expand housing opportunities for working families.
LANSING, Mich. (October 21, 2026) – Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is joining Macomb County Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Helen Hicks in calling for greater action to address Michigan’s growing affordable housing challenges.
In an October 15 opinion piece published by The PuLSE Institute, titled “Macomb Habitat CEO to Michigan’s Next Governor: Put Promise Before Profit in Housing,” Hicks highlights the increasing difficulties working families face in achieving homeownership. Habitat Michigan says those challenges extend far beyond Macomb County, affecting communities across the state.
According to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Michigan entered 2026 facing a shortage of approximately 119,000 housing units. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2026 Out of Reach report also found that Michigan workers must earn $25.53 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom rental, significantly more than the state’s $13.73 minimum wage.
Competition from investors for affordable properties, rising construction costs, and Michigan’s aging housing stock continue to create additional barriers for families seeking safe, stable housing.
“Helen has put into words what Habitat leaders across Michigan are living every day,” said Don Wilkinson, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. “Families are working full time and still cannot find a safe, affordable place to call home. What she describes in Macomb County is happening in our cities, our suburbs, and our rural communities alike. Whoever Michigan elects as its next governor, we want to be a partner in making homeownership possible again for working families. We know from our affiliates that it can be done when the state, nonprofits, and the private sector pull in the same direction.”
Habitat Michigan supports Hicks’s recommendations to strengthen partnerships between businesses and nonprofits, encourage affordable housing development, and expand financial assistance for homebuyers.
The organization is also urging state leaders to prioritize additional solutions, including increased down payment assistance, improved nonprofit access to vacant and tax-foreclosed properties, expanded critical home repair funding, infrastructure support for affordable housing developments, and greater access to state and federal housing resources.
“Affordable homeownership strengthens more than individual families. It helps build healthier neighborhoods, greater financial stability, and stronger communities throughout Michigan,” said Wilkinson.
As the state support organization for Michigan’s 43 Habitat affiliates, Habitat Michigan remains committed to working with policymakers, community organizations, and private-sector partners to develop practical solutions that make affordable homeownership more accessible.
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse political candidates. It looks forward to working with Michigan’s next governor and Legislature to advance housing solutions that benefit families statewide.
To read Helen Hicks’s full opinion piece, visit thepulseinstitute.org. To learn more about Habitat Michigan’s advocacy efforts and affordable housing initiatives, visit habitatmichigan.org.
About Habitat for Humanity of Michigan
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is the state support organization for Michigan’s 43 Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Together, we work to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope across the state. To learn more, visit habitatmichigan.org.
CONTACT: Wendy Clow, Director of Operations, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan
EMAIL: wclow@habitatmichigan.org
