More than 650 area residents representing a wide range of interests gathered at a Rally for Homeownership today in Detroit to highlight homeownership's vital importance to families and to the economy.
Speakers at the rally included U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson, Michigan Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Michael Finney, City Councilman Andre Spivey, and Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla.
"One of the most important tax provisions for the middle class is the mortgage interest deduction, which helps 33 million American families," said Sen. Stabenow. "That should not be changed, and we need to send a strong message about that."
"Homeownership builds communities," added City Councilman Spivey. "It provides dignity to families and it creates jobs. Homeownership can bring back a city like Detroit."
The rally was held at the Gardenview Estates development in Detroit, and was sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan (BIA), the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) and NAHB.
The home builder groups joined with consumer advocates, civil rights groups, Realtors, local Chambers of Commerce, politicians, church groups and others to highlight the importance of homeownership.
"We know how important homeownership is to Detroit and the overall economy," said Quicken Loans CEO Emerson. "We are going to continue to fight for families that want to become home owners."
Rally participants represented a broad range of interests including home owners, small business owners, civil rights organizations, church groups, home builders and real estate agents, consumers, business leaders, politicians, merchants and manufacturers, bankers, students and many others.
"During the worst of the recession, roughly 3.2 million Americans were out of work as a result of the housing downturn," said NAHB Chairman Rutenberg. "The revitalization of the housing market - and the return of those jobs - is the key to a lasting economic recovery here in Detroit and across America."
For more information, visit www.protecthomeownership.com/rally
