Residents and advocates urge Ingham County to extend hotel placements for people experiencing homelessness

Several people who identified themselves as unhoused residents and local advocates urged the Ingham County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 to extend a temporary hotel-placement program for people displaced from encampments.

Shantel Spears, who identified herself as a leader of the homeless advocacy group, told commissioners the hotel extension is needed because many people cannot use congregate shelters due to disabilities, medical needs or pets. Spears said the waiting list for housing vouchers is about 800 people long and urged commissioners to keep extending hotel placements until more permanent housing options are available.

A resident who identified himself as John recounted moving from a wooded encampment into a hotel and said the temporary placement helped him secure employment and sign a lease in two weeks. “The program is working,” he said, urging continued funding.

Sean Brock, also identified as a leaders of a homeless union, recounted being homeless for three years and asked the board to protect people who are warming in hotels. Another commenter, who identified himself as Tanner and said he is an art teacher, said six weeks of hotel placement is often insufficient for people to find stable work and permanent housing and described barriers to job searches while displaced.

Pastor Kevin Brown of Shiloh Church in Lansing also urged approval, describing local faith-based efforts to provide warming shelters and supports and saying “it takes a whole community.”

The board did not vote immediately on public comments; public testimony was entered during a public-comment period before the commissioners considered the consent agenda and related items.