Archives
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Staves Off An Eviction Tsunami
/in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, SE Michigan, Western Michigan /by Tracy WillisWith the ending of the federal eviction moratorium on August 26, local legal aid funds are still being sorted out. Since the initial eviction moratorium, the U.S. Treasury has paid $25 billion to states and local governments for COVID Emergency Rental Assistance. From May to August, a total of $181,821,906 has been paid out to Michigan residents. The pace of the disbursements will continue to accelerate into September, according to the MSHDA communications director. The Director of Litigation at the Legal Aid of Western Michigan estimates that applicants are waiting 1 to 2 months before receiving a check. The processing rate varies by county and ranges from 26-72%.
Cannabis Retailer Opens in Coldwater
/in SE Michigan, Western Michigan /by Tracy WillisSkymint Inc., Michigan’s largest cannabis retailer, opened its 15th store in half of a vacant department store in Coldwater. According to the company’s president of retail, bigger spaces like the former Sears building are appealing because it gives the store a big blank canvas with which to work. The artsy, boutique-vibed store offers 60 cannabis brands. Skymint has grown quickly since entering the retail market in 2019. It can also be found in Bay City, Big Rapids, East Lansing, Flint, Hazel Park and Lansing.
Affordable Housing Options Scarce in Michigan
/in Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, SE Michigan, Western Michigan /by Tracy WillisAccording to a report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a two-bedroom apartment in Michigan is unaffordable for minimum wage renters…unless they work 77 hours a week. Affordable housing was an issue prior to the pandemic, and the economic upheaval has only made it worse. Lawmakers are doling out billions of dollars in emergency rent aid, but experts agree that this is only a short-term fix. Communities need more affordable housing options. With the eviction moratorium expiring, evictions are expected to increase, making it tougher still for displaced tenants to find a place to live. Governor Whitmer plans to use $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars to create 2,000 new affordable rental homes, with funds going toward grants and loans for development, preservation of existing housing and security deposit assistance.