Ann Arbor officials have been notified of another tent community for homeless people in the city. Complaints by neighbors may lead to the eviction of the camp on Burton Road near Packard and U-S 23. The handful of tent community residents face a challenge if they need to find a new place to call home.
Sheri Wander is President of MISSION, a non-profit that offers assistance to tent communities.
She says if evicted, residents will scatter to nooks and crannies across the city. This breaks up the community aspect that Wander believes is key for individuals who have been marginalized. "It also is dangerous, particularly in the winter, you know people's tents collapse from snow, people do freeze to death," Wander says.
Members of the camp receive assistance from the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County but don't feel comfortable staying at the Delonis Center. Executive Director Ellen Schulmeister says Ann Arbor lacks housing options for individuals making less than $500 a month. She says this results in the constant friction of people trying to find a place to camp illegally in the city.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
