LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – With reports of an increasing population of unhoused people in Ingham County, city and county officials are looking for solutions.
“We’ve got to do things differently,” says Ryan Kost, First Ward Lansing City Council member. “The ‘we’ve always done it this way’ model is not working anymore.”
His criticism comes in the wake of a week that witnessed homeless camp evictions and as the city is fighting to find the best use of $800,000 in state dollars to address homelessness.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor says the city is doing what it can.
“We do what we’re supposed to do in terms of helping people,” he says. “We’re just seeing more encampments now. We’re seeing them in more public places.”
Schor recognizes the city is facing an increase in the number of unhoused people and sweeps aren’t a long-term answer.
With an unexpected appropriation from the state budget of $800,000 for homelessness, he says he wants input.
And so does the city’s Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board. The body will hold a public session Thursday, Feb. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foster Community Center for input into how to spend the state cash.