At the Jan. 12 Lansing City Council meeting, a large portion of public comment focused on the recent displacement of residents from encampments and the city’s temporary hotel placements. Advocates, volunteers and people who were moved into hotel rooms asked the council to extend stays beyond the six-week period and to commit to permanent housing pathways.

Speakers described trauma during holiday evictions, operational challenges (short notice, arrests), and the logistical work of volunteers: securing storage, moving possessions and connecting people to services. Mike Gorshek, a community advocate, said the six-week hotel placement at the Causeway Bay Hotel provided immediate shelter and dignity, but that only one person of roughly 50 displaced had received a housing voucher during the period he described. He urged the council to extend stays and to provide clear permanent-housing plans.

Individuals who had moved from encampments to the hotel reported progress: Ronald Wright said he secured a job and received his first paycheck while staying in the hotel, and asked for more time to consolidate gains. Other speakers asked the council to coordinate HRCS, Continuum of Care and nonprofits, expand case management and consider alternatives such as mod pods, authorized campgrounds, or buying apartments for rapid placements.

Several speakers also criticized the criminalization of homelessness and requested humane treatment of residents who have pets or who cannot access gender-segregated shelters. Many urged a ‘housing first’ approach and asked the council to use any available leverage — including funds that may come from economic development projects — to prioritize housing.

The council did not announce a policy change at the meeting; the testimony served as a clear call for the council and staff to present a concrete plan for what happens when temporary hotel placements end.