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Please download, print and share the Detroit People's Platform American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding Principles
Detroit will receive $880 million in federal funds!
Detroit People’s Platform guiding principles to ensure that stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) are used to jump start recovery in left behind Detroit neighborhoods.
The American Rescue Plan passed by the U.S. Congress in March 2021, is designed to provide additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.
In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroit was identified as a hot spot. Majority Black Detroiters experienced disproportionate vulnerability and impacts linked to existing public health crisis, poor medical care and inequalities rooted in historical structural and systemic racism.
Even before the pandemic majority Black Detroiters were experiencing Detroit’s proclaimed “recovery” unevenly or were locked out completely. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in economic upheaval in employment and social disruption in religious, education and community life.
Many Detroiters were already left behind before the pandemic:
- Majority Black Detroiters tended to be disproportionately employed in volatile industries like hospitality and service industry jobs. These essential workers are most impacted by COVID-19 and experienced exposure to covid infection
- With a median household income of $30,894 in the city many Detroiters faced immediate economic catastrophe.
- Pre-COVID-19 water shutoffs were rampant and disproportionately impacted Black women and children in neighborhoods left behind by strategic development.
- The existing high rent burden in households saw 30,000 annual eviction cases filed in the city.
- Unjust foreclosures and property over taxation.
- Frontline communities experiencing industrial expansion and the accompanying pollution and poor air quality.
Therefore, due to these and other systemic and structural issues, Detroit People’s Platform advocates that the federal stimulus funds be prioritized toward the recovery of majority Black Detroit.
Detroit People’s Platform puts forth these guiding principles to ensure that funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) are used to jump start recovery in left behind Detroit neighborhoods.
Racial Equity and Inclusion
Demonstrate commitment to racial equity and inclusion in prioritizing needs and investments.
Prioritize Investment
Prioritize investment in neighborhoods left behind by revitalization strategies and that also experienced higher rates of COVID-19.
Invest in the Commons
Commit to invest in the commons; recreation centers, parks, libraries, and broadband, to improve quality of life for families at or below $30,894.
Direct Assistance
Allocation of funding for direct assistance to vulnerable households.
Reduce Paperwork
Reduce paperwork and bureaucracy that impedes resident’s ability to access support in a timely manner.
Reach Critical Households
Enable a diverse network of neighborhood-based providers to reach critical households and provide assistance.
Community Benefits
Attach Community Benefit Agreements to public investments outside of the scope of the CBA Ordinance.
Participatory Budgeting
Set aside funding for neighborhood engagement through participatory budgeting and community designed programs.
Transparency
Transparent and accessible ARP budgeting data that is routinely shared with Detroiters.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation of ARP expenditures and allocations with bi-annual reporting.
Organize and Plan
Organize and plan to engage with public officials about the American Rescue Plan.
Under Caution!
Recent results from the 2020-2021 Detroit Community Budgeting Process illustrates how public officials often fail to respond to community input. Therefore, Detroiters cannot be distracted by community outreach, task force or committee engagement. Alongside these efforts, Detroiters must organize their power and demand investment of these $880 million in outcomes that benefit families and the neighborhoods where they live.
Detroiters have consistently asked decision makers to prioritize public investments in transit, libraries, housing, and parks & recreation.
(See the 2020-2021 Detroit Community Budgeting Process)
Stay connected with Detroit People’s Platform to learn how to engage in the process
