Catholic Charities Secures Nearly $5 Million in Rent Assistance for Genesee County — Are Enough Tenants Getting Help?

On Dec. 1, 2023, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority announced an additional $1 million grant for rent assistance through Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, bringing the organization's total to nearly $4.8 million to help Genesee County renters facing eviction. Catholic Charities expected to help more than 1,000 families with those funds. The program accepted applications through Dec. 15, 2023. But it required landlords to forgive 10 percent of what tenants owed, a requirement that raised questions about whether landlord participation would become a barrier to families accessing the state funds.

Renters had to have a demand for possession or notice to quit to qualify for the assistance. Applicants also had to meet income and household-size qualifications. If the tenant and landlord agreed to the assistance terms, the eviction case could be dismissed and the renter would not have a judgment in court.

Landlord willingness to forgive 10 percent of back rent determined whether tenants could access the assistance, making landlord participation the gatekeeper to the program. Catholic Charities has not disclosed how many landlords agreed to or refused the forgiveness requirement, what happened to tenants whose landlords declined, or whether the program reached its goal of serving more than 1,000 families before funds or time ran out.

Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties transferred its Genesee County HARA/One Stop Housing responsibilities to Genesee Community Health Center starting Oct. 1, 2025. The GCHC Housing Resource Center connects Genesee County residents to emergency shelter and rent or utility assistance programs and can be reached at 810-600-4525 or [email protected]. GCHC's Homeless Prevention Program offers rental assistance, utility support, eviction diversion, security deposits, utility payments with shut-off notices, moving costs, and short-term motel stays for people in Flint and Genesee County at risk of losing housing. GCCARD Neighborhood Services Center provides eviction prevention, utility assistance, and foreclosure prevention through CSBG, and also rent, mortgage, and utility assistance through EFSP in Genesee County. Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties can be reached at 810-232-9950 for Genesee County and Flint, with a main Flint address at 901 Chippewa St., Flint, MI 48503, or contact John Manse, Director of Community Services, at 810-785-6911 or [email protected].