Insurance

Staff

Amanda Nothaft

Director of Data & Analysis

Amanda Nothaft has extensive experience in data analysis and policy evaluation and has worked across multiple levels of government and a wide variety of policy stakeholders. Prior to joining Poverty Solutions, Nothaft worked on projects as diverse as...

Staff

Sam Stragand

Senior Program Manager, Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility

Sam Stragand is the senior program manager for the Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility at Poverty Solutions, where he works with community partners to conduct research and evaluation projects in Detroit. Prior to joining Poverty Solutions, Strag...

In the Media

Detroiters can’t fix up their houses without insurance — but can’t get insurance until repairs are made

Mar 25, 2026 Outlier Media

Detroiters, however, don’t have homeowners insurance at alarmingly high rates, locking them out of access to capital. At least 25% — and perhaps closer to 40% — of Detroit homes aren’t insured, according to a 2025 University of Michigan survey.

Houses on a neighborhood street in Detroit

News Release

Cost is leading factor in Detroit's higher-than-average rate of uninsured homeowners

Jul 16, 2025

About 38% of Detroit homeowners without mortgages report being uninsured, nearly twice as high as the national average of 19.5%, a new University of Michigan survey shows.

Feature

Murky homeownership status derails flood relief in South Carolina

Dec 9, 2019

This is part of a series of stories from the field for the “Understanding Communities of Deep Disadvantage” project.

A home in Marion County, South Carolina, sustained flood damage, as seen in summer 2019.

Journal Publications

Financial Outcomes Among Medicaid Expansion Enrollees

April 27, 2026

Nora V. Becker, Helen Levy, Richard A. Hirth, Sarah J. Clark, Renuka Tipirneni, John Ayanian

Journal article in JAMA Network

Policy Briefs

Exploring the Role of Homeowners Insurance in Economic Mobility and Neighborhood Stability in Detroit

March 11, 2026

Sam Stragand, Amanda Nothaft

Why does car insurance cost so much in Michigan?

Nov 15, 2021 0:03:55

Michigan has the most expensive auto insurance in the U.S., despite reforms passed in 2019 that significantly lowered premiums. And the average annual premium in Detroit is twice the statewide average. What contributes to the high rates? Why do Black...

Why does car insurance cost so much in Michigan?