How a growing homeownership rate is good for Detroit

Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City, joins Detroit Today to talk about recent census data and population decline.

Houses in Detroit's Live6 neighborhood.

Houses in Detroit's Live6 neighborhood.

Census data recently revealed that a majority of Detroit residents are once again homeowners, not renters.

Last week, we had a city official come on to Detroit Today to make the case for these numbers. At that time, a housing official said that stabilizing homeownership and providing opportunities for new homeownership is “essential.”

This all seems like welcomed news. Having more homeowners in Detroit is good. But it is also part of Detroit’s general population decline. The CEO of the local think tank Detroit Future City joined the program to offer a different perspective on what the new numbers mean.

“I think what’s important to know about this (is), even with a smaller population, the homeownership rate — who’s left — are people who are owning homes. And that is a good thing for Detroit,” — Anika Goss, Detroit Future City CEO.


Listen: Why Detroit’s new homeownership rate is good, and how to continue the trend.

 


Guest

Anika Goss is the CEO of Detroit Future City, a local think tank. She says it’s good that the number of people owning homes has gone up. Goss also notes that while it’s bad the population of the city has declined over the last ten years, it’s good that more city residents are homeowners.

“I think what’s important to know about this (is), even with a smaller population, the homeownership rate — who’s left — are people who are owning homes. And that is a good thing for Detroit,” says Goss.

Photo credit: Nate Pappas/WDET.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.