Lawmakers in Lansing pass protections for low-income renters in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - A lot of people in Michigan are renters, and now, they'll have some extra protection thanks to a package of bills that just cleared the state house.

Just Wednesday, a package of bills cleared the state house designed to give more housing access to renters in Michigan. The legislation was already voted out of the senate. FOX 2 spoke with the state representative behind the legislation about what it would mean if the governor signs the bills.

"All we’re saying is that you can't just say you don't like where somebody’s money is coming from as long as it’s legal," said State Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). "We’re trying to level the playing field on that particular piece of the puzzle."

What does this mean for Michigan renters?

The simplest way to understand the impetus behind a package of bills passed out of the state house and state senate, that would protect renters from *not* being rented to based on their source of income.

"Landlords who discriminate against renters based on their income source should be held accountable," he said.

The package prevents landlords from denying housing based on lawful sources of income - including Social Security -alimony or housing assistance programs like Housing Choice Vouchers.

"So this has been a long challenge here in our state," he said. "You have a lot of folks who we know can pay their rent, and they've proven that they have the ability to pay for their rent. But because a landlord doesn't particularly like the source of their income, they can discriminate."

The plan also changes the Landlord-Tenant Act so that people who are lawfully affected can seek relief or damages in court.

"There are penalties in place under the law," he said. "Landlords are absolutely still allowed to consider every other aspect of what they do currently."