ann arbor area...cost of living? domestic partner benefits?

MySimplePlan · Jun 25, 2008

Ann Arbor has all of the amenities you've listed - in fact, A2 excels at these things, and it has for years. However, housing is very pricey, and you'll find a big shock in housing prices, despite the housing slump this state is experiencing. Ann Arbor has always been an expensive town to live in, but I wouldn't suggest living in surrounding communities because then you'll be farther from the things that make Ann Arbor such a cool place to live, to dine, to walk around.

They've long had a farmer's market, organic food sources, a strong and accepted gay community, and politics that are verrry progressive. Though big employers have left in recent years, A2 continues to have 2 large hospitals providing jobs and excellent benefits: University of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy, with UM offering the better benefit package.

I think it would well benefit you & your partner to come here for a few days and explore the town and its surroundings and see if Ann Arbor is a place you could settle into. It's a walking town with good bus service, which is really unusual for Michigan, but between the hospital, the college and the city itself, there's not a huge need for a vehicle all the time.

Finally, Ann Arbor is home to Zingerman's. That alone is a reason to visit. Order a #13, and you'll be filling out job apps after lunch.

WayneStateKatie · Jun 25, 2008

I grew up in Ann Arbor and absolutely love the area although the cost of living there is substantially higher than many other places in the state. Very liberal with great schools. I'm not sure about domestic partner benefits at their hospitals.

I have moved to Royal Oak (northern suburb of Detroit about a 45 minute drive from Ann Arbor) because it is a lot more affordable and there is no way I could afford a great historic house like what I own in downtown Royal Oak in Ann Arbor. It would have cost me at least twice as much. We have many gay bars in the area and Ferndale (a mile south on Woodward) is very gay friendly. Ferndale has an openly gay mayor and is a wonderful diverse community with extremely affordable housing. We do have farmers markets, local produce, screen art films etc etc. I love it because it's like Ann Arbor in every way except a little smaller and with A LOT less traffic in the city itself. Royal Oak school district is one of the top public schools in the area (it recently ranked 400 something in the whole US which I thought was great)

I know Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit (15 minute commute from RO/Ferndale) offers the option to purchase domestic partner benefits. Not sure what Beaumont or the Detroit Medical Center's benefits are. Starting pay for a new RN grad is typically actually a little more in the Detroit area than the Ann Arbor area surprisingly enough but both are comparable to starting pay in Madison it sounds like.

You could contact St Joes and U of M in the A2 area and ask them about their benefits but I would definitely consider the Royal Oak/Ferndale area too (TONS of hospitals in the area) because it is more affordable.

Let us know what you find out or if you need other info.:loveya:

Polybear · Jun 26, 2008

Hi,

I recommend checking for jobs at the UM hospital. I currently work in one of the UM campus departments, and I know they offer same-sex domestic partner benefits here.

The university and the hospital may have different policies, but it's worth checking into. http://www.med.umich.edu/

Also, check out this website http://www.arborweb.com/ to find lots of cool stuff about the area.

Go Blue!

UMichSCN07 · Jun 30, 2008

While Ann Arbor is certainly both gay and straight friendly, University of Michigan has discontinued it's same-sex domestic partner benefits in accordance with the ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court in 2007. I would expect to see those benefits disappear from other local hospitals as well, as legal departments work to bring themselves in line with the state law.

A link to the UM notice: http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/events/ssdp/umssdp.htm

Mike in Michigan

MagnesiuM · Jun 30, 2008

thank you for all who responded. i love ann arbor, but i found out today that michigan courts have disallowed second-parent adoption in the state of michigan. that means that my partner cannot adopt my biological children without me surrendering parental rights (not going to happen, obviously). so michigan is off our list now......sigh.

guess we'll keep looking, in the ten states or so that do allow this.

thanks though!

Polybear · Jun 30, 2008

Just in case other interested persons check out this thread.........

UM did discontinue same sex domestic partner benefits in 2007, based on a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling, but replaced them with the "other qualified adult" benefits.......which is basically the U's way around it.

http://www.med.umich.edu/pridenetwork/dpb.htm

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 2, 2008

Just an FYI: Henry Ford Health System and William Beaumont Hospitals are the only ones that I know that currently offer domestic partner benefits

MagnesiuM · Jul 3, 2008

Thanks, but i won't be moving to ann arbor after all (see above post). but maybe someone else will appreciate that info :-) and, if you ever get to vote on it, please consider allowing any couple who will love and care for a child and be great parents, regardless of sexual orientation, to adopt each other's children or adopt other children together....

Thanks!