Delta Sigma Theta leaders and local organizers press Saginaw council on fair-chance housing; councilwoman says she'll explore local ordinance

Members of the Saginaw Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and community organizers used the council’s public comment period to mark Fair Housing Month and ask the city to consider policies that expand housing access for people with prior convictions.

Candace Thomas, chair of the chapter’s social action committee, described the chapter’s 2024 town hall on reentry and housing and urged the council to consider local steps to reduce barriers for returning citizens. Arshan (Arshan/Arshin) Baldwin and Janae Beatty gave personal testimony and described community outreach: Beatty said the chapter hosted “Making the Shift: Opening the Door to Reentry, Closing the Door to Recidivism” on April 27, 2024, attended by more than 80 community members and numerous partner organizations, and that the meeting produced 29 advocacy letters sent to legislators.

Community organizer Tony Gantt, who said he served 20 years in prison and now organizes on reentry issues statewide, described the difficulty justice-impacted residents face in securing housing and urged Saginaw to adopt a local fair-chance housing ordinance similar to policies in Detroit, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Flint.

Councilwoman Carly Rose Hammond thanked the speakers, said she supported local action, and told the speakers she would look into adopting a local ordinance rather than waiting for the state legislature to act. City staff later noted that some remedies—such as state statute changes—require Lansing action; the council and manager also identified local steps they can take, including outreach and connecting providers to available expungement and identification services.

Speakers called for concrete steps to expand temporary housing and reentry supports and asked council members to use the managerial and budget tools available to help returning citizens secure identification, employment and housing. Several council members expressed support for local coordination and for continuing to partner with community organizations that provide reentry services; City Manager Tim and staff offered to make introductions to funding partners and to collaborate on possible program referrals.

No formal ordinance or resolution was introduced at the meeting. Staff and councilmembers said they would continue to meet with community groups and look into possible local policy options.