East Lansing City Council Defers Action on Measures Critics Say Would Criminalize Homelessness
The East Lansing City Council postponed a vote during their Tuesday meeting on proposed ordinances to ban loitering in parking areas and public camping that community members and housing advocates say would criminalize homelessness.
The proposed bans on public camping and loitering in parking areas were recommended by a city committee headed by Police Chief Jennifer Brown late last year in response to concerns raised about downtown safety.
There’s been strong pushback from community members and advocacy groups that say the new rules would continue cycles of poverty and prevent unhoused residents from obtaining housing.
City Council’s Tuesday night meeting spilled over into Wednesday morning after extensive public comment. Council unanimously decided to postpone a vote on the ordinance amendments to council’s March 17 meeting, with the ordinances and potential changes set to be discussed at the March 10 discussion-only City Council meeting.
Councilmember Mark Meadows motioned to delay the vote, citing testimony from speakers at the meeting and his own concerns about language in the ordinances.
“I think the reason for this is because people are concerned about some of the language, so we want to talk that through,” Councilmember Steve Whelan said.
The ban on loitering in parking areas could carry fines of up to $100 for violators. Under the proposed rules, violators would be informed of the rule or have been previously informed of the rule and given a chance to comply before police officers can assess fines.
The ban on public camping could carry up to $100 in fines and 30 days of incarceration for violators. Camping is defined as setting up with bedding materials, cookware, stoves or fire “for the purpose of maintaining a temporary place to live.” Public places outlined in the ordinance include sidewalks, alleys, parking lots, parks, restrooms or other city facilities or “any other place which is open to the public view, or to which the public has access.”
The ordinances would not be enforceable if the person camping or loitering is sheltering from severe weather, like a thunderstorm, hail, sleet, tornado or tornado warning.
In January, the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and National Homelessness Law Center sent a joint letter to the city, urging members of City Council to reject the proposals and instead seek housing solutions.
At two February meetings where the ordinances have been on the agenda, homeless service providers, attorneys, researchers and people who have experienced homelessness have spoken for hours during public comment imploring council to reject the proposed ordinances.
“These ordinances do not solve homelessness, they do not address root causes, they do not reflect the values that this community prides itself on,” said Nicholas Cook, director of public policy for the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness.
Several speakers pointed out that the lone homeless shelter in East Lansing, Haven House, primarily serves families and not individuals. They said East Lansing officials would be pushing unhoused people to places that have resources, like Lansing, and that the city needs to provide resources to homeless people in the community.
Along with questioning the ethics of the proposals, advocates have said the ordinances will be challenged in court if they are passed.
“You’ve been told time and time again by people with much more power than I that these ordinances are unconstitutional,” said Khadja Erickson, executive director of the Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center. “You will be sued over them. It will cost taxpayer dollars.”
This is the second time council has shelved a vote to enact camping and loitering bans. After approving an introduction to an ordinance that would have a similar effect in December 2025, council declined to adopt the ordinance the next month, opting to reformat it to the two ordinances discussed at Tuesday’s meeting.