A local nonprofit and its founder have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Hillsdale, alleging city officials illegally blocked sober transitional housing for individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
The lawsuit, filed March 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, was brought by Hope Harbor, BMAK Charity Thrifts and Executive Director Melissa Desjardin. The complaint alleges violations of the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
Plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief allowing Hope Harbor to operate a sober transitional housing facility at 386 W. Carleton Road, as well as compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and court costs.
The lawsuit follows a Feb. 25 decision by the Hillsdale Zoning Board of Appeals denying the organization’s request for a use variance, upholding an earlier unanimous rejection by the Hillsdale Planning Commission in November 2025.
The complaint alleges officials engaged in a “sustained and coordinated campaign” to shut down Camp Hope — an emergency homeless shelter operated by BMAK Charity Thrifts — and prevent a transition to Hope Harbor, which is proposed in a single-story commercial building adjacent to Hillsdale Community Thrift.
The lawsuit argues the city selectively enforced zoning and building codes, denied reasonable disability accommodations, imposed fines and demolition costs, and publicly opposed recovery housing within city limits.
Hope Harbor organizers say Hillsdale County lacks another sober transitional housing facility, and that denial will force residents back into homelessness, incarceration or relapse.
The city has yet to file a response, and no hearings have yet been scheduled.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: After repeated denials, Hope Harbor files lawsuit against Hillsdale
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
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