HOPE application deadline moved up to November 1 – City of Detroit, Detroit Housing Network, and Gilbert Family Foundation urge Detroit homeowners to apply for key property tax program

2024
  • The Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program provides qualified homeowners the opportunity to reduce or eliminate their current year property taxes.
  • The 2024 HOPE application was moved from early December to November 1 to give the City of Detroit Property Assessment Board of Review extra time to reach applicants with incomplete submissions, ensuring they have a fair chance to benefit from HOPE.
  • First-time HOPE recipients may also be eligible for support from the Gilbert Family Foundation's Detroit Tax Relief Fund, which eliminates back taxes for qualified homeowners
  • Healthy Home Resource Fairs on September 28, October 12 and 26 will offer on-site HOPE application assistance and other resources for Detroit homeowners

The City of Detroit, Detroit Housing Network, Gilbert Family Foundation and their partners are joining forces to remind Detroit residents that the deadline to apply for the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program has been moved to November 1, approximately one month earlier than previous years. This change, first announced in January 2024, gives the Property Assessment Board of Review more time to evaluate applications and allows applicants extra time to submit complete forms before the end of the year.

“The number of applications received by the Board of Review has grown tremendously over the years,” said Willie Donwell, Director of the Property Assessment Board of Review for the City of Detroit. “The earlier deadline will allow us to better manage the high volume of applications, especially those that come in without the necessary documentation. This additional time is crucial to helping as many Detroit homeowners qualify for the program and ultimately avoid foreclosure.”

Despite being eligible for assistance, many Detroit homeowners do not know about the HOPE program, which provides an opportunity to receive a 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% exemption from their current year property taxes. Eligibility for HOPE is based on whether the Detroit resident owns and occupies their home as their primary residence, as well as their household income or circumstances.

The HOPE program is a vital tool to avoid property tax foreclosure, which occurs after three consecutive years of delinquency. HOPE income limits can be found in the chart below. Required documents and a full list of eligibility requirements can be found here.

HOPE application deadline November 1 1

Increasing Access to HOPE Application

 Due to widespread outreach efforts, HOPE applications increased nearly 77% between 2020 and 2023, reaching 21,384 in 2023. The Board of Review expects a similar number for 2024, including over 7,000 carryover applications from 2023.

 

HOPE application deadline November 1 2

 

Historically, many applications are submitted close to the deadline and are often incomplete. In 2023, over half of the 2,500 applications submitted between November 1 and December 11 were missing information and documents. Submitting complete applications with all required documents allows the Board of Review to process and approve them more efficiently.

“Moving the deadline to November 1 gives our clients – the majority of whom are seniors who need help completing the application - a better chance of getting this exemption,” said Phyllis Edwards, Executive Director of Bridging Communities, a Detroit Housing Network Member. “This additional time will allow the Board of Review to reach out to residents and address any issues with applications, making sure they have the opportunity to get approved for the program and ultimately stay in their homes.”

HOPE applicants can learn more about the program and get application assistance through the Detroit Housing Network, a coalition of housing service providers in Detroit, funded by the Gilbert Family Foundation and the City of Detroit, and managed by CHN Housing Partners. Detroit Housing Network Members can also connect residents to other programs, like the Gilbert Family Foundation’s Detroit Tax Relief Fund, which eliminates delinquent back taxes for families who qualify for HOPE.

"Every Detroiter deserves a strong foundation which starts with a stable, healthy home," said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund. "Applying for HOPE is the first step toward accessing comprehensive housing resources offered by the Detroit Housing Network. We urge residents to complete the HOPE application, not only for immediate tax support, but also to explore the additional resources available to them.”

Rocket Community Fund, the philanthropic partner to Rocket Companies, also provides financial support to neighborhood housing service providers around the city, enabling them to hold workshops and other events focused on the HOPE program. Participating organizations can be found in the below list.

HOPE application deadline November 1 3

 

How to Apply for HOPE:

Detroit residents have just over 30 days until November 1, the last day to submit their HOPE application. Detroit residents with all required documents can complete a HOPE application with support from DHN Member in one hour. Residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible through the following channels:

  • Call the Housing Resource Helpline at (866) 313-2520 and schedule time to meet with a housing counselor from a local housing organization and submit your HOPE application.
  • Attend upcoming Healthy Homes events where on-site assistance will be available for completing the HOPE application. Additional community resources will be available from the Department of Neighborhoods, the Detroit Landbank, banking and financial literacy resources and others.
    • September 28 at Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    • October 12 at Abayomi Community Development Corporation, 24331 West 8 Mile, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    • October 26 at Perfecting Church, 7616 Nevada, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Schedule an appointment online with a housing counselor from a local housing organization. Appointments can be scheduled here.
  • Visit the City’s Website to complete the application digitally or print it out and drop it off at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Digital and printable HOPE applications can be found here.

For more information about HOPE program, including eligibility, required documents and how to apply, visit Detroitmi.gov/HOPE or call the Housing Resource Helpline (866) 313-2520.

###

About the Detroit Housing Network

The Detroit Housing Network is an alliance of housing nonprofits that have come together to provide clear and equitable access to housing services. We are united by the idea that this access will empower our neighbors to be financially mobile, increase their access to homeownership and strengthen Detroit’s neighborhoods. 

The Detroit Housing Network is made up of the city's most trusted housing leaders, advocates and service providers. The core of our network is our Members, who bring decades of experience serving Detroit neighborhoods by providing access to essential housing services. Those Members include Bridging Communities Inc., Central Detroit Christian, Jefferson East Inc., Matrix Human Services, U-SNAP-BAC and Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. 

With the leadership of the City of Detroit and CHN Housing Partners, along with the support of Detroit's larger housing eco-system, the Detroit Housing Network is creating healthy neighborhoods and advancing racial equity through increased housing stability and affordable homeownership. 

City of Detroit Board of Review

The Board of Review hears and determines appeals along with certain other matters concerning real and personal property assessments and/or classifications. The Board of Review is one of the only opportunities in which a taxpayer may appeal before taxation on their real and/or personal property. The Board of Review has three (3) periods during the year in which its work must be complete based upon statutory mandates; they are the March Board of Review, July Board of Review and December Board of Review.

About the Gilbert Family Foundation

Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation founded by Jennifer and Dan Gilbert to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and build economic opportunity in the city of Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation supports groundbreaking, cutting-edge research in hopes of eradicating NF1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. Additionally, the Foundation supports the economic stability and mobility of residents in Detroit by investing in wealth-building opportunities and breaking down systemic barriers. For more information on the Gilbert Family Foundation, please visit gilbertfamilyfoundation.org.