(ANN ARBOR, MI) Detroiters who face rising rents, poor living conditions and systemic barriers to affordable and safe housing are at greater risk of poor health , our research finds.
Half of Detroit’s residents are renters who earn a median household income of $26,704, nearly $13,000 lower than Michigan’s median, according to American Community Survey data .
We also found that 60% of renters in Detroit are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing-related costs, including rent and utilities.
A legacy of discriminatory housing practices
These issues didn’t develop overnight. Detroit’s current racial housing inequities are influenced by the legacy of redlining . Redlining refers to the federally sponsored practice of banks and insurers refusing or limiting loans, mortgages and insurance within Black neighborhoods.
The effects were long term. As recently as 2019, formerly redlined areas had almost 30% lower homeownership rates and a $60,000 difference in median household income compared with mostly white areas that were provided with better opportunities beginning nearly a century ago.
Detroit saw about 30,000 eviction filings annually before the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a few years of respite due to pandemic-era housing policies, evictions have climbed back toward prepandemic levels. In 2023 , more than 20,000 Detroiters had evictions filed against them.
Even the Detroiters not at risk of eviction often pay increasing rental costs for poor-quality housing despite attempts by the city to implement a rental ordinance requiring landlords to register and obtain a certification of compliance with Detroit’s rental ordinance.
Research shows that 9 in 10 pandemic-era eviction filings involved properties not in compliance with local health and safety codes, including those that regulate lead hazards . At the same time, much of the housing stock continues to decline as it ages and compliance efforts are not well enforced .
However, our research shows that despite efforts to raise awareness about these programs, few qualifying households access them. This places them at risk for foreclosure and possible displacement.
New policy directions
Detroiters’ resilience and persistent advocacy have led to significant wins for housing justice, helping to translate community concerns into city policy.
In 2022, residents successfully organized for the right to counsel for qualifying low-income Detroiters facing eviction.
The city could also follow the lead of other U.S. cities such as Philadelphia by exploring eviction diversion and mediation models to reduce eviction filings.
More targeted efforts are also needed to invest in Black homeownership to ensure stability and encourage long-term residence.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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