GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — As immigration policy has seemingly remained top of mind for many voters in Michigan during this key election year, such was reflected in the newest VERIFY question submitted to the 13 ON YOUR SIDE team.
Viewer Dave asked whether the state government would offer money to people to house immigrants.
We went to the state government to find out.
THE QUESTION
Is the governor going to give $500 a month for up to 12 months to house immigrants in Michigan?
THE SOURCE
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity's Office of Global Michigan, which handles the subsidy in question.
THE ANSWER
Yes, the state of Michigan is offering up to $500 for up to 12 months to certain refugees and immigrants for rental assistance that will be paid directly to landlords.
However, the assistance will not be open to all immigrants of all statuses - only certain immigration statuses and income levels allow an individual to qualify.
WHAT WE FOUND
Known as the Newcomer Rental Subsidy, this program is not open to all people of all immigration statuses; only certain statuses and income levels allow someone to qualify.
In order to benefit from this, according to Global Michigan, someone would need to be renting and fall into one of these statuses:
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Special Immigration Visas
- Victims of Human Trafficking
- Cuban or Haitian Entrants
- Afghan Nationals
- Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees
Other non-refugee statuses that may be considered, according to Global Michigan, include the following:
- Those under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) program
- Those under the Family Reunification Parole Process for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia
- Those with a pending asylum application
- Other immigrant individuals on a case-by-case scenario.
It's also not certain that someone of one of these statuses will be approved or that they'll be getting the maximum of $500 per month that the program allows.
According to Global Michigan, individuals or households must be experiencing housing instability and be one of the following:
- Be under 85% of the Federal Poverty Limit
- Live in a Qualified Census Tract Area
- Have an income at or below 60% of area median income and receive one of several kinds federal assistance
The office lists that these payments are paid directly to the landlord, not the individual or household
Further, the 12-month time frame is a hard limit - renters cannot renew.
If there's something you'd like verified be sure to send an email to verify@13onyourside.com, or text the word "VERIFY" to 616-559-1310.
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