For decades, low housing costs were a strategic advantage for Michigan. Today, that edge has almost disappeared. Inflation, labor and material costs have all increased significantly in recent years, but home and rental prices are also elevated because of bad policy choices by Michigan lawmakers. It's time to do something about it.
This event will explore the causes behind the housing crisis, including rising construction costs, outdated zoning laws, stagnant population growth paired with increasing household numbers and the many government-imposed regulations. From energy mandates and licensing requirements to restrictive zoning and permitting delays, Michigan is pricing too many people out of accessibility.
We’ll also examine current state policies and proposals—many of which focus on subsidies and new mandates that do little to address the core issue: a lack of housing supply. Attendees will learn about viable reforms such as speeding up permitting, revising zoning rules, modernizing building codes and reducing unnecessary regulatory hurdles.
Join us as we unpack what’s driving the state’s housing affordability problem—and what must change to make Michigan a place where everyone can afford to live.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
7:30am - 9:00am
Breakfast included
The Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College
715 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Call our Events office at
This event is $10 per attendee and RSVP is required by
Jarrett Skorup is the vice president for marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He has held various roles within communications, including senior director of marketing and communications and director of the Frank Beckmann Center for Journalism at the Center, and has played a leadership role in marketing efforts, media strategy, and overseeing policy campaigns and objectives. He has worked at the Center since 2009.
David Guenthner is the vice president for government affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He joined the Center in 2018 as senior strategist for state affairs after 11 years with the Texas Policy Foundation. In addition to leading the Mackinac Center’s government affairs strategy, David also manages the Center’s criminal justice policy portfolio.
Beyond his role at the Mackinac Center, David serves as a Partner Advisor for the Michigan Justice Fund and co-chairman of the Michigan Electoral College Coalition. He is a private sector member on the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development for the American Legislative Exchange Council, having previously served three years on its Task Force on Criminal Justice.
David received his B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, with a double major in political science and speech communication and a minor in economics. He is a 2020 graduate of the Atlas Network’s Executive Accelerator and a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies.
