LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Finding temporary housing for the homeless isn’t easy, as shelters around Lansing are at full capacity almost every night.
So activists are now getting creative by getting hotel rooms for the homeless. The initial “Homeless Hotel Program” started back in 2013. Now, after a short break, it’s back with the goal of helping people get back on their feet.
“I don’t want to create a temporary address. I want to help you create a permanent address with a temporary situation,” said Mike Karl, founder of The Homeless Hotel and The Freetail Store.
Karl has been known in Lansing for his work with the homeless, but before he was an activist–he was homeless himself.
In that time, Karl learned the struggles of finding short-term housing Fast-forward to today–and Karl runs The Homeless Hotel, which is funded only by donations.
“In the last year and a half, I have seen such a spike in people getting evicted, people being outside, families that are homeless for the first time,” said Karl. “It seems like there is not enough, so it was time for me to once again step up and talk with hotels and try to link them together, so I can help as many people as I can.”