Housing as an Engine for Inclusive Growth
By: Khalfani Stephens – Deputy Mayor, City of Pontiac,
December 1, 2025
Growth is built on a simple truth: when people have homes, everything else follows. Jobs are easier to fill. Schools become stronger. Neighborhoods grow safer and more connected. The MI Home Program represents the kind of collaboration Michigan needs to make that possible.
Across the country, we face challenges with aging housing stock, gaps between wages and costs, and the need for more attainable homes near transit and employment. The MML and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority have suggested a program that would begin to address those issues in the State of Michigan. The MI Home Program will invest $160 million annually to tackle these barriers statewide, offering communities the flexibility to come up with solutions that meet our needs.
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The MI Home Program turns housing into a bridge between state resources and local results.
— Khalfani Stephens
The motto of the MI Home Program, "partnership over preemption," is what makes it transformative. It focuses on collaboration—pairing state support with trust in local leadership. It allows cities to modernize zoning, rehabilitate older housing, and incentivize attainable developments without compromising the character that makes us unique.
For Pontiac, that means leveraging this partnership to revitalize important corridors, attract responsible developers, and expand ownership opportunities for our residents. It also means investing in housing near our business districts, so that the people who drive our economy can afford to live in their own city.
The MI Home Program turns housing into a bridge between state resources and local results. It ensures that progress is inclusive and that solutions are rooted in the community. That's the sustainable path forward.
Click here for additional information on MI Home. List your support for MI Home here.