Michigan business, housing groups urge legislators to pass bipartisan Housing Readiness Plan
Skyrocketing costs, shortage of supply require statewide solution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
CONTACT: Mark Fisk, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, mfisk@byrumfisk.com and Azlan Ibrahim, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, aibrahim@byrumfisk.com
LANSING, Mich. – A range of Michigan organizations is calling on the Legislature to pass the Housing Readiness Plan as the House Government Operations Committee hears testimony on housing reform proposals Thursday.
The bipartisan Housing Readiness Plan modernizes outdated zoning rules while preserving public input, public hearings and other local safeguards. The plan also streamlines rules on residential building, parking requirements, dwelling and lot sizes, and clarifies development study and petition processes.
Today, more than three dozen organizations reiterated their call for the Legislature to pass the Housing Readiness Plan, including the Home Builders Association, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Realtors, Americans for Prosperity, Abundant Housing Michigan, the Michigan Environmental Council, Business Leaders for Michigan and many others. (See the full list of supporters below.)
Michigan faces a shortage of hundreds of thousands of homes and skyrocketing costs are keeping housing out of reach for many working class families with the age of first time homebuyers at a record high.
“Businesses, homeowners, home builders and just about everyone on the front lines of the fight to make housing more affordable in Michigan support the Housing Readiness Plan, and we urge legislators to pass these common-sense reforms,” said Brad Ward, Michigan Realtors vice president of public policy and legal affairs. “Housing affordability and availability are squeezing Michigan families and our economy. Michiganders from all backgrounds are coming together and demanding housing relief that removes burdensome red tape and increases supply, which the Housing Readiness Plan does.”
“Michigan's families are being squeezed by high housing costs, and the state has tools that it can use at no cost to the taxpayer to bring down the cost of housing,” said Lauren Strickland, Abundant Housing Michigan executive director. “On behalf of our affiliates across the state, we strongly urge the legislature to pass the Michigan Housing Readiness Package out of committee so that we can begin to tear down the outdated rules and regulations that make housing unaffordable for so many of our neighbors.”
“The Housing Readiness Plan can help close several gaps that are making housing unattainable and unavailable,” said Tim Golding, Americans for Prosperity-Michigan state director. “The Housing Readiness Plan modernizes outdated rules and regulations and unnecessary bureaucracy and streamlines processes that can lead to more efficiency and reduced costs. Michiganders want solutions that put affordable housing for families and freedom for hardworking homeowners first.”
“The bipartisan Housing Readiness Plan is a crucial step in moving the needle and reducing housing costs by setting smaller lot size and dwelling size requirements,” said Dawn Crandall, Home Builders Association of Michigan’s executive vice president of government relations. “These housing reforms set a reasonable timeframe for developments to be approved, and allows for greater flexibility so communities can meet housing needs to grow and prosper.”
Sierra Club Michigan Political and Legislative Organizer Marta Johnson said: “Sierra Club is proud to support the housing readiness package. These zoning reform bills will reduce sprawl, increase housing options and allow more people to live closer to where they work. All of this adds up to lower costs, and more walkable, resilient communities that working families need and deserve.”
“The fastest growing states limit local zoning mandates much more than Michigan in order to protect private property rights and help families,” said Jarrett Skorup, vice president for marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “People shouldn't need a six-figure income to afford a starter home, many of which are essentially banned by local governments. This bill package helps solve that issue.”
“Adopting modern zoning regulations is just one way to remove barriers to housing development without budget support,” said Jessica AcMoody, policy director at CEDAM, a statewide community economic development organization. “Many localities are already ahead of the game. These bills ensure that no matter the community, we can address the state's housing shortage through small-scale incremental development.”
Supported by Republican and Democratic legislators in both the House and Senate, the Housing Readiness Plan comes as Michigan faces a severe statewide housing crisis, with Michigan’s inventory of available housing half of what a balanced market should have, affordable housing short by hundreds of thousands, and the median housing price at $270,000 – a jump of $40,000 in just three years.
Across party lines, Michigan voters express support for bipartisan solutions to increase housing supply and reform restrictive rules, with 70% more concerned about housing affordability than changes in neighborhood character, according to a recent poll. Affordability concerns outweigh local opposition with 7 in 10 voters saying their local government is not doing enough to reduce the cost of renting and buying a home. Voters are receptive to pro-supply solutions, with 64% of all respondents supporting policies that allow multi-unit housing such as duplexes and apartments, according to a 2025 poll.
The following organizations support the Housing Readiness Plan:
Americans for Prosperity
Communities First Inc
Michigan Environmental Council
Abundant Housing Michigan
Home Builders of Michigan
Flywheel
Michigan Manufactured Housing Association
Rental Property Owners Association of Michigan
Michigan Sierra Club
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Strong Towns GR
Climate Cabinet
Michigan Realtors Association
Welcoming Neighbors Network
MI Association of Planners
Small Business Association of Michigan
Institute for Justice
Housing North
Strong Towns Flint
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Business Leaders for Michigan
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Mortgage Lenders Association of Michigan
Apartment Association of Michigan
Pacific Legal Foundation
Disability Advocates of Kent County
YIMBY Action
Natural Resources Defense Council
Airbnb
CEDAM
Pew Charitable Trusts
YIMBY Oakland County
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity
Neighborhood Institute
YIMBY Plymouth
Neighbors for More Neighbors Ann Arbor
Zillow
