In the News

"The road to homeownership for many Detroit families has often been riddled with barriers, especially for those navigating the impact of systemic inequities. However, the Make It Home program, a collaboration between the Rocket Community Fund, the United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC), and the City of Detroit, has created a pathway to stability and generational wealth for residents at risk of displacement. Since its inception in 2017, this program has helped more than 1,600 families transition from uncertain renters to secure homeowners, with nearly 100 families joining that list this year."

"Members of the Sherwood Heights Tenants Association feel they’re being targeted for eviction and nonrenewal of their leases because of their organizing.

Retaliatory evictions aren’t allowed in Michigan — unless a lease is up. Then landlords simply don’t have to renew.

"'Unfortunately, case law says retaliation doesn’t apply at the very end of a lease,' said Ted Phillips, executive director of United Community Housing Coalition. 'This is a problem with Michigan law.'"

"Let us not allow the misdeeds of two to overshadow the incredible work UCHC continues to do for Detroiters-- over 10,000 households just last year. Housing insecurity is one of the most pressing issues our city faces, and UCHC remains one of the most critical players in addressing it. As the organization moves forward, it does so with the assurance that it acted honorably throughout this ordeal and that it will continue to serve Detroit with the highest ethical standards.

Now that the forensic audit is complete and the results are clear, let’s shift our focus back to the critical work UCHC is doing—protecting low-income homeownership, advocating for tenants, and ensuring that Detroit remains a city where everyone has a place to call home."

Ted Phillips is the director of the United Community Housing Coalition. He says the people who are going to most benefit from this ruling are investors.

“It seems ironic that if some of these investors did make a bad play on certain properties and lose them for more than what the taxes were, that they would now be able to recoup that money while skirting taxes for all these other years,” he said.

"The Michigan Supreme Court said Monday its 2020 decision stopping local governments from keeping profits from the sale of foreclosed homes can be applied retroactively. The decision means anyone who lost their home due to unpaid taxes prior to 2020 — when the decision was made — could receive any money made by the county on the sale of their foreclosed home."

"Alternative Spring Break Gives Participating SLS Students a Week of Pro Bono Experience in a City Plagued by Foreclosures"

"A comprehensive new study released today by the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions concluded that Black homeowner-occupants in Detroit amassed $2.8 billion in added home value between 2014 and 2022, which represents an 80% increase during that time. The study analyzed changes in Detroit’s housing values for the nine-year period following the city’s municipal bankruptcy to understand how much growth there has been and whether that growth has been equitably distributed across neighborhoods and racial/ethnic populations."

"A review of Detroit residents fully represented under the City of Detroit Right to Counsel Program and the demographics, outcomes, and overall impact,"

"Today, Mayor Mike Duggan, City Council members joined with Detroit residents and real estate agents to celebrate a major milestone for Detroit’s Black homeowners: nearly $3 billion in added home wealth since 2014 for those who stayed in the City."

“While it’s deeply troubling that these individuals are alleged to have misused our company emails and computers, the charges confirm that the integrity of UCHC’s programs are not being called into question. We take this matter very seriously. The individuals identified in the complaint have been suspended, we are cooperating fully with the investigation, and we are also conducting an internal review. Meanwhile, the United Community Housing Coalition will continue its unwavering advocacy work for Detroiters as it has done for the last 50 years.”