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Residents press Southfield council for renters' rights as city schedules subcommittee review
Summary
A string of public commenters told the City of Southfield on Oct. 7 that rising rents and poor housing conditions demand immediate action; council referred the matter to its legislative subcommittee for a Thursday meeting and city staff pledged follow-up on specific infrastructure and inspection complaints.
Scores of residents used the council's public-comment period on Oct. 7 to demand renter protections and more vigorous enforcement of housing standards. "We have people who can't even get their social security check and 80% of it go towards rent," said Keith Harris, who told the council it was "time to wake up" and act on housing affordability.
Organized advocates from the group We The People included a formal policy request. "The main one that we're hoping you pass is good-cause eviction with the right to renew," Caitlin Homrich Nieling said, identifying herself as part of the Southfield Home Team. She said the group has met with city and state officials for a year and will continue organizing until lawmakers adopt protections.
Residents described a range of urgent problems: basements that flood with sewage after storms, sagging and cracked floors that FEMA and insurers have declined to cover, mold and pests in rental buildings, and steep rent increases that squeeze seniors on fixed incomes. "We demand action," Stacy Jackson told the council.
Council members and staff acknowledged the speakers and said the matter will receive formal committee consideration. The presiding officer reminded attendees that the council's legislative subcommittee will take up renters' rights on Thursday at 3 p.m. and that the city attorney has been researching potential ordinance changes.
City staff also invited residents with property-specific issues to contact the building department and human-services office for inspections and assistance; the building official said the city enforces the International Property Maintenance Code and that tenants may request special inspections.
The meeting ended with a commitment from staff to follow up directly with residents who raised specific maintenance and stormwater complaints and with an encouragement for those seeking systemic change to attend the Oct. 3 subcommittee session.
