LANSING — The city of Lansing and a private property owner are “98%” done with an agreement that could resolve a long-running dispute over a homeless camp and its residents in north Lansing.
About 20 people from the camp sat inside and outside Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s courtroom on Dec. 10 as the judge made the announcement
It was one of a string of weekly hearings they have been attending to learn more about the city’s lawsuit against JAJ Property LLC, a West Bloomfield Township company that owns some of the land where they have set up camp, and to speak to local advocates that could connect them with housing and other resources.
Aquilina and the attorneys met in private Wednesday afternoon before entering the courtroom.
“It is clear to me that they have been spending their time putting together an agreement working out some issues that need to be resolved,” Aquilina said, adding that a draft proposal shows the attorneys are about 98% done with an agreement. “They have to work out some minor bugs, but we are going to have an agreement Wednesday at 1 o’clock that addresses all of the issues and housing.
“I have every confidence after reading the draft proposal that you all have put a lot of thought and time into it and are addressing the needs of the human beings who are at risk.”
If there’s no final agreement on Wednesday, Dec. 17, she said the rest of the week will be used to settle such things as responsibilities, “who did what” and “who’s going to pay for what.”
City attorneys Matt Staples and Joe Abood declined to comment on the agreement.
The State Journal talked to city spokesman Scott Bean, who said he would research the matter and possibly provide additional information.
“The City and other parties involved have an agreement in principle and are working with the Court to finalize details,” he said in an email. “We fully expect to share details in Court next week.”
“The parties are in good communication and working toward an effective resolution,” JAJ’s attorney, Edwar Zeineh, said. He declined to discuss specifics of the agreement.
The city sued 113 W. Michigan LLC of Jackson and JAJ Property LLC of West Bloomfield Township earlier this year to break up the camp and have their wooded properties cleared of debris and people.
The camp’s population has since ranged from more than 50 to about 70. Aquilina earlier this year dismissed 113 W. Michigan LLC from the suit, saying the LLC was working with the city and there’s “very, very little of their property that’s involved.”
She ordered the city in September to “make all reasonable efforts to find suitable shelter for the occupants of the Encampment” in an attempt to have the camp vacated by winter. When 50 residents remained in November, she extended the order by 90 days.
Meanwhile, the homeless and their advocates weren’t sure what to think of a potential settlement.
“An agreement about what? 98% done with what?” asked Willie Hayes, who lives at the camp. “I have no understanding, no clue as to what just happened in there. I am praying that God will intervene at the last hour … and put it right.”
His prayer is for some combination of housing and letting camp residents stay in their tents and makeshift homes, at least for a spell.
“We need a temporary place to reside before transitioning or attempting to transition,” he said.
Critics have said relocating residents from the camp, which has existed for at least three years, is not going to be easy. There are a host of issues involved, and homeless shelters aren’t an an acceptable option, or an option at all, for some people living on the streets. Experts say those include people who are caregivers; have partners, children or pets; medical, mobility or mental health issues; or don’t feel comfortable staying in religious-based environments. Alcohol and drug abuse can also be problems when trying to get admitted to a shelter.
Khadja Erickson, executive director of the Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center, began crying in the hallway after she learned of a potential agreement. Hayes and other camp residents and housing advocates tried to comfort her.
She wanted to hire an attorney to represent people living in the homeless camp since they’ve been allowed to live there for so long and use electricity on the property.
“All of these things establish a tenancy,” Erickson said. “These people have a claim. These people are being denied due process by not being allowed to have a voice. It’s so cruel.”
She said she has talked to one of the attorneys involved in the case, making her suspect a settlement. But now she fears an agreement could clear out the camp right before Christmas.
“Their track record is they give people five days’ notice,” Erickson said. “They have to just take all their stuff, everything and get it out of there. But to where?”
She’s been frustrated with the slowness of the system.
“That’s why these people are out on these streets for so long, because even when they’re doing literally everything right it just takes so much time.”
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ingham County judge says deal to address Lansing’s homeless camp ‘98%’ done
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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