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September 17, 2024
In This Issue:
On September 10, 2024, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crime was proud to present the 2024 MI Response to Hate Conference. As with previous years, the event was well attended by people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The one-day conference, now in its 14th year, is the largest gathering of its kind in Michigan. The theme of this year’s conference was “In Allyship, We Rise: Together Against Hate” and the event featured experts who spoke on topics including understanding the history of race and policing, radicalization to violence, a legal overview of hate crimes, and extremism in gaming.
Watch for video of the event on our YouTube channel @micivilrights.
(Photo is a wide shot of the audience as they listen to MDCR staff and event organizer Kimberley Williams.)
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Executive Summary
Beginning in November 2023, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights held four public hearings on fair housing in Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids, plus a virtual session. In these hearings we collected more than eight hours of
testimony, including recommendations.
The Civil Rights Summit on Fair Housing, held June 12, 2024, was developed in part according to the concerns raised at these hearings. Panelists and speakers were challenged to think in terms of policy recommendations.
Through multiple hours of testimony and a full day of Summit discussions, a few common themes rang true. First, addressing housing discrimination is critical to allowing Michigan residents to survive and thrive in our state.
Second, fair housing can only be secured through a multifaceted approach using a combination of cooperative enforcement and proactive education. This report represents both the efforts of fair housing groups and MDCR staff, and a commitment to our partnership to reducing housing bias for all.
Legislative Policy Suggestions
- Support legislation around protecting residents from housing
discrimination around source of income, eviction record expungement,
or criminal records.
- Remove the exemption excluding properties with five or less units
since most properties in Michigan are smaller.
- Support legislation making it illegal to discriminate against buyers
using FHA loans.
- Educate legislators and regulators about technology-based
discrimination to dispel myths and clarify issues.
Administrative Policy Suggestions
- Create a task force with financial companies, data analysts and fair
housing groups to create some guiding principles for future uses of AI.
- Increase money for testing and create a pool of testers that can be
shared with fair housing centers around the state.
- Create a statewide fair housing and accessibility education and
resources initiative targeting tenants, property owners, and staff.
- Create training and resources for CDBG recipients, developers, and
local zoning entities regarding exclusionary zoning and accessibility.
- Establish disparate impact investigations around credit ratings and
mortgage denial rates.
(Image is MDCR's logo against a blue background. Text: "No Place Like MI Home: 2023 - 2024 Fair Housing Report")
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Colorful graphic against a white background. Text: We're Hiring. Join our team!
Now Is the Time to Join MDCR!
Current Openings:
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Administrative Law Specialist: This position functions as a staff attorney providing legal guidance and leadership to Civil Rights team(s) engaged in complaint investigation, Education and Outreach and Partnership initiatives. Apply by September 29, 2024.
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Director of the Division of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing: The position is responsible for directing and coordinating the day-to-day work of the DODDBHH and supports the mission of affirming the indisputable rights of persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing to secure effective communication. Apply by September 29, 2024.
Photo of a small note stuck into corkboard. Text: "Your Vote Counts!"
Did you know?
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Michigan residents have the right to:
Hear from Michigan leaders on the importance of exercising your right to vote.
Invite us to talk about voting and civil rights at your event!
MDCR is committed to reaching Michigan residents regarding their fundamental right to vote. MDCR’s voting rights team is available to speak at your event, and to staff and supply a table with information on the right to vote. Contact Anthony Lewis, Director of Community Engagement and Education, at LewisA4@michigan.gov.
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