Eviction in the U.P. Deserves a Closer Look
As of March 2023, The Eviction Lab reports that Michigan’s eviction filing rate jumped from historic pandemic-era lows to become the 5th worst in the nation at 16.7%. This means that more than 16 evictions were filed by landlords for every 100 renter households across the state. Not all eviction filings lead to a forced move; in 2023 the Michigan Justice for All Commission reported that only 17% of filed eviction cases in Michigan resulted in a court-ordered physical eviction. Regardless, case filings alone burden tenants with associated costs and fees, and create records that may discourage landlords from renting to the affected tenants. Furthermore, with nearly half of Michigan renters (48.8%) paying over 30% of their income on rent, and an average wait time of over two years for the housing voucher assistance program, Michigan renters face significant barriers to affording their homes and avoiding eviction.
