Beyond Repair
Inside Detroit’s home repair crisis
Detroiters’ homes are falling apart. Black residents who anchored their neighborhoods through the city’s toughest decades could be pushed out — unless help arrives soon.
Experts peg the home repair need in Detroit at more than $1 billion, but the city’s efforts to help fix leaking roofs, crumbling porches and dilapidated plumbing come nowhere close to that.
Homeowners staring down unaffordable repairs say it’s time for the city to step up to help them stay in their homes.
What will it take to keep Detroiters, especially older Black residents, in their neighborhoods? What’s blocking broader assistance? How can local leaders prioritize repairs alongside the city’s other critical needs? In our series Beyond Repair, Outlier Media is exploring what real solutions could look like — and what Detroit stands to lose if nothing changes.
How will Sheffield prioritize home repair? Anything less than $250 million is ‘laughable’
Detroiters are increasingly worried their homes will fall apart because they can’t afford critical repairs to roofs, plumbing and foundations.
Detroiters can’t fix up their houses without insurance — but can’t get insurance until repairs are made
“We’re just kind of stuck,’’ said one Detroiter who keeps getting denied homeowners insurance.
Detroit plans to double spending on home repair. It won’t come close to meeting the need
Georgia Taylor’s porch is falling apart, causing her to fall three times. Help has yet to arrive.
How to preapply for home repair help in Detroit
Check if you’re eligible, then add your name to the list through March 22.
Detroit’s home repair loan program approved few applicants. Here’s what didn’t work — and what has in other cities
Sheffield promised to focus on home repair. Will she lean on banks to do more?
Detroit has made headway on home repair. It’s still a $1B problem
Available funding doesn’t come close to meeting repair needs. Homeowners say they don’t have time to wait.
Longtime Detroiters have held onto their homes for decades. Will they get help with repairs before it’s too late?
Some houses need plumbing, windows, roofs and insulation. The question isn’t whether homes in this neighborhood get fixed up, but who can afford to…
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