"There are many things that could be done to address housing issues in Ingham County," Innovation and Planning Manager for ICHD Amanda Darche said. 

The HIA concluded that communities in Ingham County are facing a crisis in the availability of safe, healthy and affordable rental housing. 

"(Landlords and property managers) know we don't have any options, so they will continue to increase rent every year for everyone," Michigan State University political science and AAAS senior Nel Robinson said. 

While students struggle with rent, they also face a number of concerns at their rental properties including broken shower doors, broken refrigerators, broken stoves and holes in ceilings that haven't been replaced or fixed. 

"My washer has been on its last legs for a year now and they keep ignoring the maintenance reports because it's still functioning," MSU graduate Alexys Williams said.

Housing maintenance, affordability, fair housing, access to community services and the need for a variety of housing options were the top five priority housing issues in the survey included in the HIA. There is a shared understanding among the community and students that these housing issues need to be addressed.

Williams said along with her washing machine, her water heater has been replaced multiple times due to detection of carbon dioxide and she has been experiencing difficulty with her stove. 

"Nothing has changed in the apartment since I moved here," Williams said, who moved into The Landings at Chandler Crossing after rumors that it was the best among the options for student housing. "It honestly has gotten worse." 

The HIA found that students affected by the lack of affordable housing are most likely to cut back on health care necessities to cover their housing costs. Other evidence has also linked unaffordable housing to high stress and poor mental health. 

"I feel like I'm kinda shuffling for rent these days, I wasn't anticipating paying this much for rent," Williams said. 

Robinson said she is currently experiencing a $200 increase in rent at Victory Student Apartments, causing her to struggle both financially and mentally. 

"I'm stressed all the time because it's such a huge increase," Robinson said. "I was already having problems affording it last year because rent is so high here, in East Lansing." 

As students continue to face issues involving the quality of housing and its affordability, students recommend creating more student housing, creating policies to combat unfairness among landlords, as well as action on the proposed ICE housing recommendations. Other resources that residents can utilize include The Housing Resource Guide for residents seeking questions concerning housing.