Committee advances plan to draft resolution allowing Housing Choice Vouchers for homeownership

The Committee of the Whole on March 12 asked staff to draft a resolution to examine whether Housing Choice Vouchers can be used toward homeownership and scheduled the item for a one-week bring back.

Chair opened discussion of line item 5.1, a memorandum from Council member Leticia Johnson asking the Legislative Policy Division to draft a resolution on a Housing Choice Voucher homeownership option. The chair explained that Housing Choice Vouchers are “financially supported, I believe, by the federal government,” and said the Detroit Housing Commission has indicated it offers a homeownership option and that the council wants residents to be aware of the program.

During public comment, virtual caller William M. Davis urged the council to adopt the homeownership option and to do more to help residents become homeowners, citing generational-wealth concerns. Another commenter, Owner Papa, asked what funding sources and totals have supported the Choice Voucher homeownership initiative and asked the city to review slow or incomplete Community Benefits Agreement deliverables tied to development projects.

The committee agreed to bring the item back in one week so staff can prepare draft language for a resolution and additional information on program funding and implementation.

The one-week bring back was approved by unanimous consent; no formal roll-call vote was recorded. The item will return to the committee with draft resolution language and any supplemental information from the Detroit Housing Commission and Legislative Policy Division.