Detroit Future City

Detroit Future City is a think tank, a policy advocate, and an innovation engine developing data-driven strategies to create a more equitable and sustainable future for Detroit.

DFC Presents "Understanding the Rental Landscape: A Profile Analysis of Detroit Landlords to Inform Lead-Safe Housing Policy"

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DFC's new report, "Understanding the Rental Landscape," details how the number of landlords within Detroit, and classifying them into distinct typologies, helps to better understand Detroit's rental housing system.

DFC Presents "Middle Wage Jobs"

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DFC's new report, "Middle Wage Jobs," details how middle-wage jobs are defined and calculated, followed by a deep dive into recent trends, a snapshot of the demographic characteristics of middle-wage job holders, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those jobs.

DFC Presents “Buying In: Opportunities for Increasing Homeownership in Detroit”

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DFC’s new report is an immediate follow-up to the economic equity report. “Buying In,” examines trends, challenges and solutions for increasing homeownership through mortgage lending. This report defines a mortgage loan as more than just a pathway to homeownership, but an indicator of capital flow and a building block of economic equity and growth, neighborhood stability, and wealth building for people of color.

Watch The Center's discussion on Growing and Retaining Detroit's Black Middle Class

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The Innovation series seeks to inform, inspire, challenge, and activate cross sector innovation to advance economic equity in Detroit and the region. Catch up with The Center and watch the discussion on why growing and retaining the African American middle class in Detroit is an indication of economic equity.

DFC and EcoWorks Presents “Green Alleys: Detroit’s Opportunity for Innovation”

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The new report highlights green alleys as a transformative green stormwater infrastructure and alley activation strategy, exploring the history of green alley projects in Detroit and around the country.

Our core areas

Detroit Future City’s Community & Economic Development department combine original research, cross-sector collaboration, technical assistance, and policy development to foster a more equitable and sustainable city.

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Detroit Future City’s Land Use & Sustainability department works to foster equity and sustainability in Detroit neighborhoods promoting the use of Green Stormwater Infrastructure and open space projects.

LAND USE & SUSTAINABILITY

The Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research (The Center) produces relevant and accessible research focused on advancing economic equity and an improved quality of life for all Detroiters.

THE CENTER FOR EQUITY, ENGAGEMENT, & RESEARCH

CHECK OUT OUR RESOURCES

Detroit Strategic Framework
Economic Equity Dashboard
Videos
Research
Tools

Latest News

“Buying In” Hard Copy Submission Form

"Buying In" Hard Copy Submission Form
Blog | July 25, 2022

Click here to request a hard copy of Detroit Future City’s March 2022 “Buying In: Opportunities For Increasing Homeownership in Detroit Through Mortgage Lending” Report.

High gas costs exacerbate transit challenges in Detroit

High gas costs exacerbate transit challenges in Detroit
In the Media | July 5, 2022

Detroit Future City’s (DFC) 2021 State of Economic Equity in Detroit report was referenced to address how low-income residents struggle to find alternatives to the rise of fuel costs in the City of Detroit, and how it affects struggling Detroiters who cannot rely on bus services. Click here to read more.

Understanding redlining and how it kept communities of color from homeownership

Understanding redlining and how it kept communities of color from homeownership
In the Media | June 14, 2022

President and CEO, Anika Goss, was quoted in a Business Insider article addressing the impact of redlining, and how difficult it is for people of color to acquire mortgages in the City of Detroit. In the article, Gross explains that “These are also places that are concentrated poverty, concentrated environmental contaminants and pollutants, and poor […]