Detroit Future City

Data Brief: Vacant Housing Units in Detroit

This data brief examines data from the American Community Survey to show how vacancy in the city has changed over the past decade and what the addition of the table “other vacancy status” can tell us about vacant units in the city. (2026)

Detroit Issues Guide 2026 - Updated Version - October 13, 2026

Developed by Detroit Future City and the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, the updated edition of the issues guide offers a non-partisan, educational overview of how state and local policies shape issues impacting Detroit communities—from affordable housing and public education to public transit, public safety, and taxes. It also highlights what Detroiters will see on their ballot this fall. (2026)

Land Contracts in Detroit: Examining Land Contracts in the Detroit Housing Market - June 17, 2026

This report analyzes more than 17,000 land contract transactions recorded between 2008 and 2024, combining quantitative data with the experiences of residents and housing practitioners to answer a simple but important question: who is using land contracts, where, and why do they continue to matter? (2026)

Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit's Future Talent - May 19, 2026

By centering youth voice, the report highlights bright spots, barriers, and opportunities across three core components of career-connected learning, and examines how different partners in the city are aligned to connect young people to economic opportunity. (2026)

2026 Update—Understanding the Rental Landscape: A Profile Analysis of Detroit Landlords - March 18, 2026

This report examines who owns rental properties across the city, identifies patterns in landlord behavior, and highlights the challenges many property owners face.

Tech Tomorrow: A Detroit Vision - March 4, 2026

Drawing on labor market and capital data, ecosystem analysis, and stakeholder insights, this report examines the current state of Detroit’s tech economy and provides recommendations to move it forward.

Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region: Insights and Solutions to Fuel Economic Impact - Nov. 12, 2025

Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region: Insights and Solutions to Fuel Economic Impact is the latest collaboration between the New Economy Initiative (NEI) and Detroit Future City (DFC). Through a series of focus groups and interviews conducted during the Summer of 2025, the report underlines the importance these businesses have to the Detroit region and examines some of the key challenges that they face.

Detroit Future City releases new report, "Saving for the Future: Land Conservation in Detroit" - October 30, 2025

Detroit Future City (DFC) has released Saving for the Future: Land Conservation in Detroit as part of Detroit GreenSpace, a citywide effort to transform portions of Detroit’s 18 square miles of vacant land into protected natural areas that strengthen neighborhoods and improve environmental health. The report introduces both Detroit GreenSpace, a citywide strategy to convert underutilized land into a connected network of natural areas, and the Detroit GreenSpace Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that will provide long-term stewardship and ownership of conserved land.

DFC Future City Forum Now Available on Detroit PBS On Demand

Detroit Future City is in its sixth year of bringing together Detroit's most passionate changemakers, we're stepping into a bold new chapter. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the 2025 Future City Forum Keynote on PBS Books beginning on October 20, 2025.

Detroit Future City's New Brief to Inform the Detroit 2025 Mayoral Election - April 17, 2025

Detroit Future City has released the "Opportunities for the Next Mayoral Administration to Grow Detroit’s Middle Class" which focuses on key policy priorities for the next mayoral administration to grow Detroit’s middle class.