My investigative writing examines housing systems, courts, policing, nonprofit accountability, and the institutional structures that shape everyday life. These essays combine documentation, public records, lived experience, and analysis.
Housing Systems
Essays examining how housing instability intersects with law enforcement, courts, and civil systems.
Institutional Accountability
Reporting and analysis focused on nonprofit transparency, public institutions, and systemic power.
Legal & Structural Analysis
Writing that explores how laws, procedures, and systems affect individuals navigating housing and civil justice.
Recent Investigations
Money Out of Politics: Who Signed and Who Didn’t?
Consumers Energy’s proposal for a $456 million rate increase has raised concerns among Michigan residents, particularly regarding corporate influence in politics. The “No Utility Money Challenge” pledge has led candidates and lawmakers to commit to rejecting certain corporate contributions. This initiative offers voters transparency on candidates’ stances, vital for informed decision-making in upcoming elections.
Accountability Watch: A Vote That Raises Questions in Kalamazoo’s 41st District
An accountability-focused analysis of a Michigan House vote in the 41st District raises questions about transparency and the absence of a public explanation.
How Housing Instability Starts Long Before Eviction
Housing instability often starts long before an eviction notice appears. This essay explores the quiet financial strain, emotional stress, and systemic barriers that push people toward housing insecurity long before they lose their homes.
From Housing Instability to Incarceration: The Housing-to-Prison Pipeline
Housing instability doesn’t end with eviction. This investigation explains how housing insecurity feeds incarceration and why housing is a justice issue.
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© 2026 Jennifer L. Dayton. All Rights Reserved.