TAKE ACTION
Rental assistance sign-on letter
The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness is requesting organizations sign on to a letter encouraging Governor Whitmer to include $20 million for rental assistance in the supplemental budget. With the eviction moratorium ending on January 2, 2021 and the eviction diversion program required to spend their funds by December 30, this assistance is needed more than ever. Please contact Laurel Burchfield (lburchfield@mihomeless.org) to add your organization’s name as soon as possible.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Payday expansion bill update
The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee held a hearing yesterday, December 8. HB 5097, which would allow loans of up to $2,500 at an APR of 132%, was originally on the agenda. It appears that the chairman did not have enough votes to pass the bill yesterday and did not take it up for a vote.
Thank you to everyone who has called or written to your legislators about the payday expansion bill — your advocacy is working!
Even though HB 5097 did not get voted out of committee this week, there is still time for the committee to vote on it. It is important to ensure that your senators oppose the bill should it move in the future. Please continue to reach out to your senator and urge them to vote no on the bill. You can find contact information here, and talking points are available on the CEDAM website. Please reach out to Jessica AcMoody (acmoody@cedamichigan.org or 517–231-6139) with any questions.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PILOT PROGRAM UPDATE
While we expected a committee hearing this week on HB 5820–21, bills that would create the Michigan Community Investment Pilot Program, the Speaker announced yesterday that there will be no voting and no attendance taken at the House session this week. Committee hearings have also been cancelled due to a high ranking staff member testing positive for COVID-19. We will keep our members updated as things progress.
