Together with a community partner, Elizabeth Benton from the Michigan Advocacy Project, I co-led the first major study of evictions in Michigan. Drawing on statewide case filing records and in-court case research in Washtenaw and Lenawee counties, our research documented the prevalence, locations, and other aspects of eviction. The project resulted in a policy brief and report, released on May 20, 2020, and an online map and scholarly article.
Looking for Data?
See p. 10-12 of our 2020 report
Updated Report (2021)
We published a one-year update of our report in June 2021, summarizing policy changes during the pandemic, reviewing statewide eviction data, and proposing further recommendations.
Press Release: "Michigan eviction filings dropped 65% in 2020, compared to pre-pandemic"
Full Report: Reducing Michigan Evictions: The Pandemic and Beyond
Original Report (2020)
Press Release: "Eviction case filed for 1 in 6 rental units in Michigan, UM study finds"
In June 2020, we published an online map of our statewide tract-level eviction filing data.
Scholarly article (2021)
In February 2021, a scholarly article from this project was published:
Robert Goodspeed, Elizabeth Benton & Kyle Slugg (2021) "Eviction Case Filings and Neighborhood Characteristics in Urban and Rural Places: A Michigan Statewide Analysis," Housing Policy Debate, DOI: 10.1080/10511482.2020.1867882
News Coverage
MLive.com, Martin Slagter, 20 May 2020, "See which Michigan counties have the highest rate of eviction filings"
MLive.com, Martin Slagter, 20 May 2020, "Eviction anxiety grips Washtenaw County renters in 'frightening environment'"
The Detroit News, Christine MacDonald, 20 May 2020, "Study: Tenants in 1 out of 6 rentals faced eviction in Michigan"
WDIV/Ch. 4 Detroit, 22 May 2020, "University of Michigan research finds 1 eviction case filed for every 6 rented housing units"
WLNS/Ch. 6 Lansing, 25 May 2020, "New research highlights Michigan's high eviction rates"
WNEM/Ch. 5 Saginaw, 26 May 2020, "Research shows high eviction rates in Michigan"
Cadillac News, Chris Lamphere, 3 June 2020, "Spike of evictions, homelessness predicted after stay home order lifted"
Bridge Michigan, Paula Gardner, 12 June 2020, "Order extending halt in Michigan evictions may create 75,000 case backlog"
Concentrate Media, Patrick Dunn, 9 June 2020, "U-M report on Michigan evictions makes recommendations to avoid 'looming pandemic eviction crisis'"
Detroit News, Christine MacDonald, 26 June 2020, "Whitmer extends eviction ban, offers $50 million in aid"
Detroit Free Press, Nushrat Rahman, 13 July 2020, "As Michigan's eviction moratorium lifts Thursday, advocates tell tenants to seek legal aid"
Mid-Michigan Now - NBC25/FOX66, Lia Kamana, 14 July 2020 - "Michigan's eviction ban ends on Wednesday and state says a backlog of 75,000 is expected"
Bridge Michigan, Ted Roelofs, 12 October 2020, "As evictions loom, Michigan areas to vote on affordable housing millages"
MLive.com, Taylor DesOrmeau, 2 June 2021, "Pandemic hasn't spurred 'eviction tsunami,' but experts fear it could still hit"