Detroit mayoral candidates discuss their plans for improving housing stability

As Detroit's mayoral primary on Aug. 5 approaches, affordable housing and homeless services took center stage at a candidate forum Wednesday night.

The candidates who participated were City Council President Mary Sheffield, entrepreneur and civic leader Jonathan Barlow, City Council member Fred Durhal III, former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, lifelong Detroit resident DaNetta Simpson and activist Rogelio Landin. Sheffield did not stay for the entire forum.

Detroit's shortage of both affordable housing and homeless shelter capacity was thrust into sharp relief earlier this year when two children died of carbon monoxide poisoning while staying in a van with their mother and siblings parked in a Greektown casino parking structure. A 2023 report from the Detroit Justice Center, a nonprofit that says affordable housing is part of the government's responsibility to residents, estimated the city was at least 46,000 affordable housing units short of what it needs to address the city's shortage.

Last year, outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan said the city had built or preserved $1 billion worth of affordable housing units in five years.




https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/16/detroit-mayoral-candidates-discuss-their-plans-for-improving-housing-stability/85249855007/