Evictions Research

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

• Check out this link for a statewide dashboard

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"

• Policy Brief - Michigan's Eviction Crisis

• Full Report - Michigan Evictions: Trends, Data Sources, And Neighborhood Determinants

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"