As the 102nd Michigan Legislature wraps up its lame duck session this week with a flurry of bills yet to be voted on, we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy have been following along closely and have already celebrated several major policy wins for Michiganders.

Among the legislation that has already passed is an important package of bills that will protect renters from discrimination by landlords based on their source of income will soon be headed to the governor’s desk.

The passage of Senate Bills 205 to 207 and House Bills 4062 to 4063 is a huge win for Michiganders, many of whom have, for far too long, been turned away from safe and affordable housing simply because of the way they planned to pay their rent.

Pending the governor’s signature of those bills, a new law should be in effect by early next spring that will prohibit any Michigan landlord with five or more units from rejecting tenants who plan to make rental payments using non-wage sources of income, such as housing choice vouchers or veteran’s or social security benefits.

We at the League have long advocated for that kind of statewide protection, as we know that source-of-income discrimination has had dire consequences for veterans, disabled people, retired workers, and Michigan families alike, especially those raising children.

When it comes to housing choice vouchers, specifically, data has shown that they are a proven tool in helping Michiganders face the serious housing affordability challenges in our state.

In 2023, more than 66,000 income-eligible Michigan households in every county in the state — including 41% with children — were able to afford a safe place to live thanks to those vouchers.

However, the vouchers have not been as effective as they should be because of funding shortages that have resulted in long waiting periods — an average of 26 months — for income-qualifying families to receive them and a stringent timeframe — usually less than four months — in which they must then find a landlord willing to rent to them.

The short timeframe, combined with landlords’ unchecked ability to turn away people who use non-wage sources of income, has led to many families ultimately losing their vouchers before they can use them.

Under the new legislation, families will not only face fewer barriers in using their vouchers but will be able to more easily secure housing in lower-poverty neighborhoods with higher-performing schools and less exposure to environmental toxins.

Those are the very areas where housing choice voucher rejection rates have been shown to be the highest.

Ultimately, the legislation will result in better health outcomes for individuals and families as well as better educational outcomes and brighter futures for kids.

And, because the vouchers are disproportionately used by Black families as a direct result of our country’s long and deplorable history of discrimination and overt racism in the housing industry, the pending new law will also help put a stop to the racial discrimination that has continued to be perpetuated in the housing market in the absence of statewide source-of-income protections.

In Alpena, we know the legislation will not only make a meaningful difference in the lives of families who are struggling to get by but also many of the more than 2,300 veterans that call either Alpena County or one of its neighboring counties home.

The bills will make it easier for veterans seeking to use the benefits they have honorably earned through their service to our country in securing high-quality rental housing.

We applaud the Michigan Legislature for centering the needs of Michiganders with the passage of those bills, and we’re so thankful for the many lawmakers and advocacy partners who were an integral part of getting that important legislation across the finish line.

With more Michiganders able to secure safe, stable, and affordable housing, we expect to see a positive ripple effect in schools and communities across our great state in the years to come.

Monique Stanton is president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy.