Residents pressed the Kalamazoo City Commission Tuesday night for faster, more coordinated action on homelessness after two recent deaths raised alarm in the community. Multiple speakers told the commission a man had been found frozen in Martin Luther King Park and another person was found hanging early that morning; several callers demanded transparent public updates and a thorough investigation into the hanging.

Chief Christopher Boysen told the commission the morning hanging was recorded on video and that the person was found hanging from a light fixture at Stockbridge and Mills. "There was no other people involved," Boysen said, and he described the case as a tragic incident involving an individual with a history of mental illness. On the MLK Park case he said officers performed CPR and the individual later died at the hospital.

Public commenters pushed for immediate changes that they say would save lives: expanded 24/7 warming centers, better transportation to daytime shelters, less restrictive intake rules (IDs, pets, children), and clearer, up‑to‑date public information about where people can go. "We need measurable commitments, funding allocations, timelines, and public reporting on homelessness prevention, housing first strategies, and emergency response," Marissa Wagner told the commission.

Police and outreach staff described current activities and limits. Officer Mary Miller outlined the Community Service Team's daily outreach to encampments, referrals to partners including ISK and WME StreetMed, and use of a case‑by‑case approach for petitions when a person poses an imminent danger. She said the team is "extremely proactive" and makes strong use of partner organizations but cannot force people into shelters unless legal criteria are met.

Commissioners said they hear the urgency and outlined next steps. Commissioner Slaby proposed a focused effort to define the city's role in communications and logistics — for example, placing current shelter information on public bulletin boards at City Hall and MLK Park, and checking whether the city's 3‑0‑1 phone script is up to date. The commission agreed to explore a homelessness response coordination approach and to consider short‑term budget options such as using the commission fund to support transportation or survival gear.

Several commissioners emphasized partnership with county and nonprofit systems that already handle housing and service delivery. Commissioner Hoffman urged reliance on the continuum of care and county resources to avoid duplicating efforts, while Vice Mayor Duncan said he would join weekly unhoused crisis meetings to provide city representation.

The meeting closed with commissioners committing to follow‑up: staff will report back on affordable short‑term measures, and commissioners will explore how to integrate city actions with county plans and existing service providers. The commission did not adopt an emergency ordinance at the meeting; next steps include committee work and staff follow‑up on recommended communication, shelter and transport options.