LANSING – State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) today introduced a plan that would allow counties to increase their real estate transfer tax if the funds are used to establish a housing trust fund for the homeless.
"Homeless people are our neighbors – they are part of our community," Jones said. "We have a duty to help our neighbors. This plan will keep our communities healthy and strong and help get some of our most vulnerable residents back on their feet."
State law requires that the county real estate transfer tax to be set at 55 cents per $500 of value in a county with a population of less than 2 million, and not more than 75 cents per $500 of value in a county with a population of 2 million or more. The value is the selling price.
Under Jones' plan, a county could choose to raise the tax by 25 cents for each $500 of value, as long as the funds are used to establish a housing trust fund for the homeless. Jones' plan also requires the county to annually report on the distribution of the funds to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
"Everyone deserves to live in a home, with a roof above their heads, and not in the streets or in their cars," Jones said. "Our residents deserve to live in dignity, not in despair. Through creative plans like this, we can beat homelessness."