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.

Register for DFC’s Third Annual Equity Forum

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DFC is hosting its third annual Equity Forum, bringing the community together to inspire innovative ideas and collective action. Join us for a conversation that intends to inspire action that will advance economic equity and overall quality of life for all Detroiters.

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

New “zero-down” mortgage program targets Detroit

New "zero-down" mortgage program targets Detroit
In the Media | September 12, 2022

Joe Gullien of Axios Detroit mentions how DFC has done extensive research on homeownership, and reveals the release of an upcoming catalog of local down payment assistance programs for people making $50,000 a year or less. Click here to read more.

Detroit renters, housing advocates want to form citywide tenants association

Detroit renters, housing advocates want to form citywide tenants association
In the Media | August 15, 2022

In this article, Nushrat Rahman at Bridge Detroit touches on the difficulties of securing housing in Detroit, highlights the need to protect and serve renters who are faced with several issues from evictions to home repairs, and references Detroit Future City’s report: Understanding the Rental Landscape. Click here to learn more

One-third of Detroit’s Rental Housing Owned by Landlords With at Least 5 Properties

One-third of Detroit's Rental Housing Owned by Landlords With at Least 5 Properties
In the Media | August 15, 2022

Detroit Future City’s (DFC) “Understanding the Rental Landscape: A Profile Analysis of Detroit Landlords to Inform Lead-Safe Housing Policy” report was referenced in Deadline Detroit to address the statistics surrounding rental properties in Detroit. Click here to read more.