'Slow moving' process to find homes for former Camp Take Notice residents solidifies supporters' resolve to reopen camp
You can see the path to the former site of Camp Take Notice through the 8-foot fence erected to keep former campers, and anyone else, out of the Scio Township site.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The slow moving process to find new residences for former Camp Take Notice residents is not unexpected, but it does add fuel to a movement trying to restart the camp near Ann Arbor.
Out of the 40 people who were given one-year rent subsidies when they were evicted in June from the homeless camp on state land in Scio Township, more than half have yet to find a new residence. However, the exact number of former campers who have been housed varies based on who is speaking.
Ellen Schulmeister, executive director of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, said 16 or 17 former Camp Take Notice residents have been housed with seven to 10 waiting for inspections to be completed before they can move in. Brian Durrance, a board member of Michigan Itinerant Shelter System-Interdependent Out of Necessity (MISSION), said 12 or 13 people and about four more are very close to moving into a new residence.
Durrance said it’s been a frustrating experience waiting for residents to get housed, but he’s learned even more about the issues homeless people have to endure in order to get housing. Bad credit, criminal histories and financial insolvency mixed together can make it nearly impossible for the former campers to get new residences, even with state backing. That’s why Camp Take Notice needs to reopen, he said.
“We are still trying, still determined to reopen the camp,” he said. “We’re still determined to address the needs of people in Ann Arbor who are homeless. We are working as fast as possible to reopen the camp on the original land or somewhere different.”
Camp Take Notice has existed in one form or another since 2007, having settled and been evicted from five locations during that time. The first location was behind the Mallet's Creek branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. From there, the camp moved behind the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center in County Farm Park before moving in 2008 to the wooded area behind the Arborland Shopping Center. In April 2009, the camp was evicted from that location and moved to behind the Park And Ride lot near Interstate 94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road.
A year later, the campers were again evicted from that location and moved to the Scio Township site off Wagner Road between I-94 and M-14, where they stayed until June.
Currently, former campers are staying at the Delonis Center in a temporary shelter set up just for them. Schulmeister said the temporary shelter is different than the temporary warming center set up during the winter when homeless people can come in for the night and then leave in the morning. Instead, former campers are allowed to stay in the building all day — provided they remain sober — and receive any services they need.
The main shelter at the Delonis Center has 75 beds that come with services, meaning that the people who stay there have access to drug and alcohol counseling, financial counseling and other services that will help them get back on their feet. It’s not the typical mission-style shelter that might have 100 beds that are filled at night and then emptied in the morning, Schulmeister said.
The 75 beds in the main shelter are usually full, as they are in many shelters around the country, Schulmeister said.
Camp Take Notice
Here are some stories from AnnArbor.com's coverage of Camp Take Notice
- Ann Arbor's Camp Take Notice put on notice by State Police
- Homeless camp near I-94 settles into neighborhood west of Ann Arbor
- 'It's been a mil winter' for 2 dozen homeless living in tent city near Ann Arbor
- Homeless man found dead at Camp Take Notice
- Eviction looms for Camp Take Notice: 'I doubt we'll meet the deadline
- Camp Take Notice founder waits to be arrested as cleanup efforts wrap up
The 40 people who were given rent subsidies were all assigned a case manager and have worked with them to find new housing, along with any other service at the Delonis Center, she said. There are about 17 to 19 people who are staying in the special set up on a regular basis and no more than 22 have been there on any given night, she said. About 50 people regularly stay in the same room during the winter. She said each former camper has about three feet of space from the nearest resident.
Durrance said between 68 and 72 people were in the camp at the time of eviction on June 21. State officials said 40 people were given vouchers because that’s how many people were in the camp when the plan was formed.
Given the background issues many campers have, the delay in finding a new home is not unexpected, Schulmeister said.
“This is normal. The folks we’re talking about here have some of the more difficult issues to overcome,” she said.
She added, “Everyone is interested in getting help, but it’s not an easy process and you have to be willing to go through the process.”
About $300,000 is available for the rent subsidies, according to Schulmeister, who added that's a ballpark number.
The campers and their supporters haven’t taken the decision to clear the camp lightly. Protests were held at the old campsite off Wagner Road near Jackson Road last week and staffers working for Gov. Rick Snyder were bombarded with protests at mobile office hours in late July.
Remnants of last week’s protest at the old campsite are still visible on the 8-foot, chain-link fence that lines Wagner Road and about a quarter-mile of eastbound M-14 — pieces of threads that held signs waved in the wind Friday afternoon next to the multiple “No Trespassing” signs. The fence serves as a metallic wall separating the wooded area between M-14 and Interstate 94 from the rest of the Scio Township area.
The fence was erected by the Michigan Department of Transportation as a barrier to anyone thinking of resettling on the site.
The fence blocking off the former site of Camp Take Notice stretches down Wagner Road.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Sally Harrison, director of rental assistance and homeless solutions for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, said the long process is the reason why the state provided funding to the Delonis Center to keep the temporary shelter open. Harrison said there’s no cut off date for the grant-funded program but the hope is that all 40 of the former campers with subsidies will have new homes by the end of August.
Harrison said she’s very pleased with the way the process has gone to this point — given the challenges many people have, having so many people housed five weeks after the camp was cleared is a success. Her latest update on Monday showed 16 people had been housed and 10 more were waiting for inspections of their new residences to be completed in order to move in.
While sleeping on a mat at the Delonis Center and trying to find a new home for weeks at a time isn’t an ideal situation, Harrison urged patience
“We were hoping (people would find homes) as quickly as possible, but that’s one of the reasons we provided funding to the Delonis Center: We knew it would take some time,” she said. “There’s no cut off date, the grant is for extended funding in the event people don’t get one until September. … It is a challenge when people have poor credit and criminal histories to find housing.”
But, Durrance said the fact that about 24 people from the camp — plus the many others who had no subsidy or other options after the eviction — have not been housed yet reinforces the need for Camp Take Notice.
He said people are still being referred to MISSION and there are more and more people coming into the Ann Arbor community with no place to go.
While the camp might have been an imperfect solution, it offered community and protection for people who might have otherwise been turning to crime, he said. There’s hope that supporters of the camp will purchase land for a new camp, or that a local church group might allow a camp to be formed on its land, he said.
Any decision on a new Camp Take Notice will come after the end of the month, he said.
Despite the fact that the Michigan Department of Transportation is adamant about not having another camp on its land, Durrance said the need for the camp remains.
“We need to rebuild the camp as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
4 Fingers
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
I'm willing to help...after you take the sexual offenders , convicted criminals, and drug addicts out of the equation. How many we got left?? I live near CTN and I can't count on both hands the amount of times the police were called. Isn't that eating up resources? Ambulance for ODing? resources. I've offered homeless people jobs in the past and pretty much got an excuse why they can't (won't). Someone brought up not being able to live on minimum wage. its a start. Show up for work early, leave late and maybe your boss will give you a raise. Not working. Volunteer somewhere, never know who you might meet. Like a job. CTN is a way of life. Do you guys even have a limit as to how long someone stays or is it "Just as long as you need to". Bleeding hearts, keep bleeding your time and money see if anything changes....
Jack Campbell
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
We need to stop attracting vagrants. The Delonis center should be used for Washtenaw county homeless only. Pan-handling needs to be outlawed.
Dog Guy
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
"Out of the 40 people who were given one-year rent subsidies when they were evicted in June from the homeless camp on state land in Scio Township, more than half have yet to find a new residence." And they are threatening to start a new Camp. These threats are quite as much a taxpayer shakedown as AAPS' achievement and discipline gaps. The threats never stop despite ever-increasing payoffs. Why do we tolerate such protection racketeers?
Caleb G. Poirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
The former residents of Camp Take Notice did not seek out, nor ask for, nor otherwise shake down the housing subsidies. Those subsidies were dreamed up by conversations between the leadership of MDOT and the leadership of MSHDA long before news of the impending eviction was broken to CTN. The purpose that statement: "more than half have yet to find a new residence" is to clarify the misperception that everyone that was at CTN is now housed and that the local problem has gone away. That is simply not correct. In a best case scenario, up to 31 of the forty subsidies that were provided will be appropriated by the former residents of CTN; even that best case scenario that will leave greater than half of that camp's population without shelter this winter. Additionally those that are newly homeless cannot now access the local professional shelter (because it is full) and now have no back up options. Threats are not being made here. What is being made are statements that the humanitarian needs of the overflow homeless of Washtenaw County will go unmet if the destitue are not permitted to execute their own makeshift survival when no other options exist.
jcj
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Let this dead horse lie in peace and the dead beats move on!
alarictoo
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
There are a number of churches in Ann Arbor with "huge tracts o' land". And I know of a number of "missionites" who attend them. Perhaps one of these churches would care to erect a semi-permanent tent city on their property in order to house and minister to the folks of Camp Take Notice.
Caleb G. Poirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
I am a fan of your idea for the following reasons: 1) The neighbors, though fearful, are comforted by the knowledge that this community will be moving on. 2) The entire church as a group has the opportunity to participate in reaching out to a needy population. This is significantly differently from the traditional model of sending out a very few church members, at great expense, to a distant part of the world in order find and assist a poorer population. 3) The homeless have the opportunity every three months to plug into a new micro community – whether it be through the families that attend that faith institution or through the jobs that are found within walking distance of the camp. This periodic rotation keeps a parade of new relationship options open to a class of people that often have difficulty making new friend/work connections. 4) The move itself is a healthy thing for both the tent community and the faith institution as people come together to solve actual, real life problems. Having been a Paramedic and Red Cross volunteer to Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina struck, I can testify that while big aid went to big cities, it was the local neighborhood churches that served up local aid to local people. 5) The periodic rotation of the tent community is healthy for the residents who exhibit less territoriality about their immediate tent area as well as a greater willingness to disengage from the tent community and resettle into traditional housing. The rotation also helps to keep relationships between campers healthier as the changing neighborhood landscape (every three months) yields decreased accumulations of grips that can build up over time - like feuds between long time neighbors. 6) The presence of the homeless causes local neighbors to wrestle with and (usually) to overcome their fear of the other often yielding new relationships as well as greater tolerance that wouldn't otherwise have developed.
FormerMichRes
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 9:45 a.m.
I would suggest that they take up residence at the ARB. It would be the epicenter of the limo liberal elite (faculty, high ranking city officials) in Ann Arbor. Watch the CTN support dissolve rather quickly... as property values in the area fall. Maybe one of the math profs could use some calculus to figure out the rate of decline? Some graphs would be good as well.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
FormerMichRes The Arb is an obvious solution for former CTN residents. Its wooded and secluded while still being close to retail and social services. It's also right on both the City and University bus lines. Unfortunately, the University of Michigan police have been especially hostile to the Ann Arbor homeless population. They routinely issue trespass notices to homeless people which makes illegal for them to access any University of Michigan properties. Some challenge the legality of these notices, but there is no legal support for those who receive these notices. Unfortunately, for most homeless people the University of Michigan is just too dangerous a place to pitch a tent.
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly, and it's all ugly, the fence, the eviction, an act of the Government to try to dispose of the garbage. Well it's a direct result of having the best homeless shelter in the USA, and if it weren't for that, many of these lost homeless people would have never drifted to our city. So Yes It Is Ann Arbor's fault, and they need to do something about it. I say down play the shelter and stop making it such a drifter magnet. I am not talking hate here folks, but I am talking reality. Take off your liberal blinds for a minute and take a real look around and see, smell, and taste the reality. We never should have built that shelter where it's built, and it should have never been so alluring to the homeless. I used to work in the field of helping the crisis stricken folks, and have been there myself. The best shelter I lived in was the salvation army's. They make you get a job, and take 85% of your paycheck, and then help you get a stable living situation with the money they held back. This is good help, and the city shelter should model itself after it.
Hot Sam
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.
Good points Joe... I would like to add a few. When the shelter was being planned, many of us researched the subject and found many reasons to advocate a system of smaller shelters throughout the community. The large central center, while being a magnet for many, is also a problem for some. Especially those who are apt to camping...whether in a place like CTN or under a bridge etc. The large center is a source of intimidation to some who may be comfortable in a smaller decentralized location. The Delonis center was a dream of the county commission at the time. It was decided way before any of the public comment or discussion was heard. While the staff are wonderful and do a good job, the pitfalls of such a deal are now coming to light...
Jack Campbell
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:34 a.m.
Why are there so many homeless in A2? Why is it our duty to house all Michigan's vagrants in our community? We already spent millions on the Delonis center, enough is enough.
DavidMacGown
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.
It amazes me to no end how so many people can be so unempathetic and without compassion. There are a number of reasons how one can become homeless and you would be wrong if you counted all of your generalizations as reasons why. For most people a solid education and a good paying job would be good advice to follow and I believe that to be solid advice also...for most people. Why don't you stop for a minute and listen to people's stories before you judge and namecall, because everyone has a story...even you Jack.
Caleb G. Poirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
Ouch. Those words hurt. It is a good a question, however: When has our duty to our fellow man been fulfilled? Does our collective duty cease after several millions have been spent? I think the hospital is a good metaphor: Does our collective duty to our fellow man stop after we have built a hospital? Or perhaps our collective duty stops after we have built a hospital and instituted an ambulance service? Does such a robust and expensive health system now negate the responsibility of the layman - you and I, to learn and practice CPR and to be a good samaritan? Jack Campbell, no one has the duty to respond to the needs we see around us, we have only the privilege.
Ricardo Queso
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
"Important members of the community"? Why yes, just yesterday I saw two cardio thoracic surgeons, the dean of the B school, and a leading software entrepreneur enjoying a cappuccino under the Wagner road overpass.
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.
There are a lot of homeless people in A2 because we are lucky enough to have services that can help them get back on their feet. More come every day from outside of Washtenaw County because of this reputation. Vagrants? Many CTNers would more accurately be described as important members of the community, some of which have cleaned highways and volunteered at hospitals. Some are veterans.
Emily Greene
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
It's pretty sad reading all these negative, stereotyped comments about the residents of CTN. Do any of you know - or care about - the individual circumstances that resulted in these persons becoming homeless? Until you've walked a mile in their shoes, maybe you should withhold your judgment.
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
One camper expressed similar sentiments to me saying that she feels like she's a book and people judge her by her cover.
Charles Cooley
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
Camp Take Notice served a purpose in the local social service system for the years that it quietly occupied its site on unused public land between I-94 and M-14. Local social service agencies (including the chronically at-capacity Delonis shelter), hospitals, and law enforcement routinely referred people they could not accommodate to Camp Take Notice. And at no cost to the taxpayer. Zero. On public land that could not possibly be used for any other purpose. Without CTN, Delonis and other agencies can do nothing for such people in need of a place to stay other than hand them a blanket and wish them luck in finding a park or bench to spend the night. The $20,000+ fence is a fiscal disgrace.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
Charles Cooley Thank you for making an important point that is being overlooked in the current discussion. Homeless people are still being turned away from the Delonis Center which is at capacity. But rather than being referred to a safe, clean tent community, they are simply being turned into the streets with a blanket. This means that more people are now sleeping in dangerous locations throughout the city, rather than being monitored by supportive church people in one centralized location which is well known to Ann Arbor's law enforcement community and to the service providers like Home of New Vision and Dawn Farm. This is a shame. We urge those who are concerned to contact Governor Snyder and State Representative Mark Ouimet to urge them to reverse their policy of dismantling Camp Take Notice. MISSION is not asking for tax payer money. We are simply asking for government to step out of the way so that we can continue to do our necessary humanitarian work. Please help us by visiting www.tentcitymichigan.org and by contacting your elected officials. Thanks for your support
alarictoo
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
I call BS, Charles. "And at no cost to the taxpayer. Zero." The taxpayers paid for the public land, and the taxpayers pay to maintain it. That means removal of any refuse left behind by CTN, and the construction of the fence, as well. I love to camp, but I cannot just go and setup camp on any piece of state-owned land I choose. Nor can I choose to build a semi-permanent structure there in order to live there for several years. If you want to accomplish a permanent site for a program like CTN then start lobbying efforts and become a political movement. However, I imagine that you will face strong opposition from any local community that you try to establish a communal situation similar to CTN in.
Ricardo Queso
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : noon
Unregistered sex offenders squatting on property adjacent to tax paying home owners. Stop the Marxist charade, get these people help. And yes, that means no substance abuse. As for you children and your "save the world" dreams - go back to the left coast.
Doug
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:24 a.m.
Ann Arbor should hire them to clean up areas of Ann Arbor so they will earn the money we give them. If they refuse let them fend for themselves.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
Doug Thanks for the great suggestion. Camp Take Notice was one of the first tent cities in the country to participate in the ADOPT A HIGHWAY program. Three times a year, CTN residents cleaned the trash on I94 between Zeeb and Jackson road exits. We will shortly be gearing up for our August clean up. If you are interested in joining us and our church supporters, please contact us at www.tentcitymichigan.org Thanks in advance!
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
That's a very good point! When CTN was at Wagner and Jackson, they adopted a segment of a highway and cleaned it up. Despite not having a home, they plan to do the same this year.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
"Bad credit, CRIMINAL HISTORIES and financial insolvency mixed together can make it nearly impossible for the former campers to get new residences" Maybe that's why the next CTN should be set up in Bloomfield Hills, Northville, Troy, Rochester Hills, Ferndale, Commerce Township, Birmingham, Farmington Hills or Dearborn. We took our turn(s) already.
JRW
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
How about a follow-up article telling us where these former campers are finding housing? That would be helpful.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
There's nothing like the desperation of our fellow persons to bring out the nastiest, most viciously snide remarks from those who have. Hey, I'm doing fine. Why don't these "poors" (how nasty) get off their sorry rearends and stop doing drugs and raping and pillaging and get a 9 to 5 job and buy a house and a car and pay taxes. Do you people really think there are no real justifications for anyone being without work and without home and transtport and food and clothing? If so, perhaps it's time for you to do a selfishness check and do some studying on homelessness. It just is not that simple. It's like Reagan saying that if you don't like your local schools, you should send your kids to private schools. Come on. Use your brains.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
Mixed thoughts... It's one thing to help someone and quite another thing to enable someone. Having done both, I've learned the very hard way that enabling does not help at all. It's an individual case. Help takes time and patience. Enabling creates and maintains victims both with the taker and the giver. For those that throw God around, I was told that enabling is like throwing pearls before swine... I can't speak for all homeless and I've almost been homeless twice in the past two years. That alone was painful. I have loved family who have severe mental illness and I struggle myself. How do we help those who won't get help for whatever reason? There are no easy answers just as there is no quick solutions.
mpope
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Time and patience. Yes. That requires even more from people than cash-generosity. I guess that's why it's not happenin.
John
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
In the past couple weeks, I have seen ridiculous amounts of seemingly homeless people in the ann arbor saline rd/Eisenhower part of town. Not just the exits on 94 either,(Which I have seen like 4 people at a time) but over by the whole foods lot, and by Panera bread, even sitting on the street curbs (Yes, of Eisenhower) all the way down towards the mall. And folk I have never seen before riding bikes with trash bags full of god knows(probably cloths, or cans heading up to meijer) around the Lohr rd area (Mcdonalds and such) Is it possible that some of these people or others have already found a place to relocate??? There is areas over there with not a lot of traffic which would seem suitable.
John
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:41 p.m.
No junk get in your car and drive over there right now if you think I am playing. If I had the money I would throw a liquor store over there on the corner of Lohr and AAs, I'd be rich!!
John
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:39 p.m.
I will also throw in there that if these "people" are so inclined to Crime to support there life or "Habbits" as some of you people say, that there was a home invasion in the Lohr Rd/Oak Valley Subdivision. Around the same time all the "Homeless folk" started showing up.
shepard145
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
It seems the Ann Arbor entitlement attitude at camp "Somebody Lookit Me" don't understand those of use who work every day. These folks should just hop a bus to Detroit where they can live out their lives in a city that has devolved to a state where 58% of residents receive some form of public assistance EVERY DAY. You collect a free house, free cable, free cell phone, free AC and often a free car all paid for by those of us who work. This solution will alleviate the tension of trying to feed off a community that still relies on tax dollars from those suckers you see still working 40-50+ hour a week. More bad news for camp "Somebody Lookit Me" residents is that it is time for you to stop wining and get a job. Working at various fast food restaurants 70 hours per week will earn more then enough to live a normal life. Keep at it over the years, continue to advance and your life may improve. With regard to all the "questioning" about camping in yards, parking lots and other parks, its amusing to see how many posters here are clueless about the notion of zoning in a city that can argue for years about a gas station sign! LOL The local naïve church that thinks it would be wonderful to house some of these people for a week or whatever find out fast what a really bad idea that is …and often the fact that they are not zoned for housing is the least of their problems.
Justavoice
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Plenty of open vacant land in Detroit. Have at it. Reason why they want to stay here. Plenty of services to continue to use for long term, and plenty of freeway on ramps or downtown to pan handle. Unfortunately people are too gullible and continue to hand out money left and right (give them food and watch the reaction). Mr. Durrance, you are now not part of the solution but part of the problem. You will get nothing but continued larger resentment for a growing part of the community. Find a new solution or take on the responsibility yourself. CTN is not the solution unless your looking to buy a one way ticket to camps in Seattle and set up shop there.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
How abut ND? They have a 1% unemployment rate. Maybe they can get a job there?
Caleb Poirier
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
The scale of that fence is nothing less than impressive. Shocking really. While MDOT insists that the whole thing only cost us $20,000, a professional fence builder states that materials alone likely equal that amount. The $20,000 price tag does not include the cost of a road crew to redirect Wagner Road traffic. Not included is the price of the bulldozers or the price of that tractor machine with the clear cutting tool arm that sheared the trees off the hill beyond the fence for a distance of twenty feet. Not included is the price of their legal professionals who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to dream up a housing intervention where all of the residents were evicted but only half would be provided with a subsidy. Not included is the price of a two man film crew that documented the proceedings. Not included is the price of Jeff Cranson – MDOT's PR head who misled the public by telling newspapers the eviction was not imminent and who now works, post-eviction, telling concerned citizens eviction was necessary due to safety concerns – the same safety concerns that MISSION (the non-profit which helps CTN) brought to MDOT's attention so those concerns could be addressed with MISSION funds. Not included is the cost of the flotilla of professionals that convened to design, approve and execute this fig leaf. At the meeting to which Camp Take Notice was invited - where the sad news was broken about the impending eviction, over forty-five professional social workers, accountants, physicians, engineers, and bureaucrats of all colors were in attendance. Not included was the time that these state and county paid professionals had put in over the previous months during what was revealed to be a multitude of meetings. Also not included are the protests from those that have been skipped over when MSHDA decided to extend their money not to those who have waited the longest or need it most urgently but instead to those who create the most governmental discomfort.
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:58 a.m.
OK, so then what. The homeless does not have the right to intrude other people rights. there were too many complaints first and foremost. everyone who has replied to this post has a real point. Why did you decide to come to A2 and live in tents? There's a good question. The welcome to Ann Arbor sign, did not say come and leach off of us while, and such. People work here, and have children, they are trying to make a life, so you just might want to follow suit, and start making the right decisions for yourself, and stop demanding handouts. There's nobody waiting to give you a life, you have to do it yourself.
ConcernedCitizen
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
Not included in Mr. Poirier's diatribe is the fact that UNREGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS were allowed to reside in the "camp". Also not included is the fact that after living on this land illegally for over two years, they received hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to find clean and safe places to live. The lack of gratitude by Mr. Poirier for MDOT's efforts on behalf of these residents is truly disappointing.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 10:11 p.m.
Be honest. You don't give a rip about the cost or the appearance of the fence. You don't want it there at all. All you're trying to is get people mad at the state government by talking about the cost of the fence and convince them that it's ugly. Nothing wrong with having that point of view. just stop trying to manipulate people by making it an issue of cost and aesthetics.
Jack Campbell
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
So what you're saying is you cost us a ton of money. You weren't "evicted" you got kicked off land you had no right being on.
Steve
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
...and do the neighbors of CTN have no rights? Sounds like all the taxpayer dollars you claim that were spent were also to protect and preserve their rights, too. After all...these homeowners actually PAY taxes. Do you?
Steve
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 6:18 p.m.
So.....what's your point?
Ricardo Queso
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
Get a job, get off drugs, move on.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
You sound very intelligent and competent. Do you have a job?
Paul Epstein
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
Even in "liberal" (hah!) Ann Arbor. Truth is, in the United States it is easy to sum up the support system for those who are homeless. Zero. Nothing at all but conservatives who posit that ALL poor and homeless people are in their position JUST because of laziness and personal lifestyle indiscretions. Zero. But of course there is the initiative to force them out of every location they scrounge up for themselves. No problem there spending money. Zero.
Ricardo Queso
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
Bums. Hobo's.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Don't call them "hobos." A hobo is a person who travels from town to town looking for work.
Ricardo Queso
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.
One of the few supporting the many.
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
And you? What's your label?
MiaMeow
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
I feel like they are freeloading off of us everyday downtown as well as this land. I went through a nasty divorce and did not have a job. I got evicted and was still able to keep a roof over my head (NO PARENTS) until I got back on my feet. Of course this was when we had the big job fallout so I couldn't even get a job a fast food at that point. But these people need to remember what life is supposed to be....9-5 job working to live not sitting on a curb asking us for hard earned money. I even saw a lady give her leftovers to one of these kids with a dog downtown on main street. He took a bite, spit it out and gave it to the dog! I could not imagine someone that hard off feeding mains street restaurant food to their dog!!! I was appalled.
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
"I'd like to respectfully disagree that life is not about a 9-5 job. I believe life is more about meaningful relationships and being active and helpful to your community." When you take "meaningful relations" and "helpful to your community" to the grocery store, how much food do they give you in exchange for it?
J. Nystrom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:28 a.m.
Mia, I'm be surprised to see you arguing the meaning of life here in the comments of AnnArbor.com, and since I'm given the opportunity to discuss it, I'd like to respectfully disagree that life is not about a 9-5 job. I believe life is more about meaningful relationships and being active and helpful to your community. I hope that you have meaningful work, and I am glad that you were able to take care of yourself in such a tough time-- I'm sure you worked very hard to do that. If you hadn't been able to, though, I would have loved to help you at CTN, and I would hope that there would always be someone there to help you out. It's a curious story that you illustrate with the kid giving his food to the dog, but remember that this is only one story. I know many people with many different stories who live at CTN. It seems as though you think that some people are ungrateful for the help they get-- I can tell you that is not my experience. JNS131-- I don't know many campers who wouldn't be willing to share that enchilada if you needed some.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
Ive seen that happen too. They don't want leftovers, they want the entire enchilada. Sorry, but if you want a job? You will work weekends. Your post does not surprise me in the least. I always walk past or dive by them and give them nothing. There are government handouts.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
I doubt that 9 to five jobs are the kind that these folks can get. I never had one? Did you? You a banker or something?
genetracy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:37 p.m.
I wonder how many of the CTN folk have applied for a job since they were evicted. Anybody care to guess?
J. Nystrom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:20 a.m.
Perhaps not all have applied for jobs, but maybe that's because many already had jobs before eviction and even post eviction. But I don't see what that has to do with anything. A job does not guarantee you a home, especially when the Living Wage to afford an efficiency apartment in Ann Arbor is more than $5 above minimum wage. (http://www.universallivingwage.org/fmrtables_2011/MI_FMR2011.htm) What I see as relevant is this: People did not have a place to stay-- they were without family to fall back on for help, and they found a place to stay that was resourceful, welcoming, and helpful, at no cost to taxpayers. Then that community was evicted, and people were flung to the streets again. Jobs have nothing to do with it. Ann Arbor's lack of affordable housing and apparent deficiency of a strong community are more of the issue.
A2Guy
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:08 a.m.
We will find out in a year when the subsidy runs out. I am thinking a low percentage. Hope I am wrong.
drewk
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
There are plenty of State campgrounds. Many have well water and latrines. Why not there?
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
If state land that was being completely unused (Wagner and Jackson) is out of the question, then certainly, state campgrounds that are intended for vacationing families are not an option. MISSION, CTN's partnering organization has funds to potentially buy land, but zoning ordinances forbid this kind of activity. What may work is if the Ann Arbor community gets behind CTN and puts pressure on the state to allow its existence!
genetracy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Will the CTN people pay for the permits to camp or will the taxpayers have to pay that too?
Joel A. Levitt
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
We can all applaud the principle that was at the heart of Camp Take Notice, that even greatly troubled people can gather and successfully take responsibility for themselves. Should a modified version of the camp, one which graduates people into successful independence in the general society, be restored? There are at least two questions that need to be investigated. Can the essential social structure of Camp Take Notice be restored? Has the Delonis Center been significantly successful in promoting the physical and economic security and the independence of its clients? Do any readers have the answers? If the answers to these subsidiary questions are positive, then I believe we should seriously consider reestablishing Camp Take Notice on City land with the proviso that residents must participate in Delonis counseling.
walker101
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
What we need is a County Homeless Director to oversee and coordinate expenditures to insure that these individuals are taken care of, free housing, medical and drug services and free job training are provided by government grants. Mind you this is all free. San Luis Obispo California has just hired just such a person for only $106,000 to start. Now when will we get ours?
martini man
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Here is an idea that all the liberals will support as a way to solve the homeless problem.RAISE taxes !!! Yep ..raise taxes on the people who work for a living ...possibly a special millage designated just for the homeless folks. It could be adjusted upwards each year, depending on the cost of living and the influx of new homeless people. The CTN types could be given free housing and all essentials,while the tax payers would feel less shame and guilt for actually being productive citizens.
nickcarraweigh
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
No one willingly lives without a roof at 42.22 degrees north latitude with a sound mind, and to believe otherwise is just nuts. So you decide in your own conscience whether to help the homeless or not, but don't try to blame them for their predicament.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
I am blaming them. There are jobs out there. They don't want them because it does not pay what they were making before they were laid off. In the 1930's people worked anything at any wage. Today? It is my way or nothing and expect the government to feed them. FDR had the right approach and we need to go back to the work program era and get these people to help themselves. To many handouts is creating too many beggars. Man, get a job. They are out there.
Skyjockey43
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
Right. Because their predicament is my fault. It's my fault that they can't get work. It's my fault that they can't provide their own living accommodations. I guess that fact that I'm able to get a job and take care of myself makes me special. The fact that I work my butt off in the process has nothing at all to do with it. Please take note of the high intensity flashing neon "SARCASM ALERT" signs posted at all exits.
Real Life
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
I fail to see how herding the homeless into a festering pesthole was good for anybody. One poster suggested moving remaining occupants to Ypsilanti, were there are plenty of abandoned homes and public housing. Better yet, a mere 45 miles east of here Detroit beckons. We can certainly set up a pioneering re-settlement program for people with the gumption to move on to something better. If people prefer to sit around outside, bang their drums, and feel sorry about themselves, I guess they can do that, too. Just not in a shanty town here in my neighborhood when better alternatives abound.
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
CTN was not a festering pesthole. It was actually quite clean and well-kept. And what happens when you push all the homeless out of Ann Arbor and into Detroit? If they're suffering in Detroit does that mean they don't exist? As long as you can't see them?
Margaret Lynch
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
When MDOT evicted Camp Take Notice from an unused parcel wedged between I-94 and M14, CTN housed 68 homeless people. Because local shelters were (and are) full, thee to five more homeless people had been arriving at CTN each week, referred by the shelter, the police, the U of M emergency room, and local agencies serving the homeless. Those agencies referred destitute people to CTN for two reasons: (1) there was and is no other place for homeless people to go; and (2) CTN worked. CTN provided a desperately needed refuge of last resort, at no taxpayer expense, to hundreds of homeless people over the last several years. CTN's residents have included pregnant couples, people with multiple low paying jobs, WCC students, men and women with severe physical and mental disabilities, people in chemotherapy and veterans. In conjunction with its eviction of CTN, MDOT offered one year housing subsidies to approximately 40 people. Those 40 subsidies were not intended to and did not solve our much bigger homelessness problem. CTN helped us all become more aware of homelessness and the profound destitution many of our neighbors experience. CTN also created a model, a refuge of last resort, in which neighbors help neighbors survive. Because CTN filled an urgent need and made our entire community a better place, efforts are now underway to reconstitute CTN.
Chester Copperpot
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
No taxpayer expense? How about myself and my neighbors getting broken into? How about the fact I had to resort to chaining down my outside items to keep them from getting stolen again? It has costed this taxpayer PLENTY....
kulanova
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Luke 11:39-42 Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God
kulanova
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 8:13 a.m.
I shall use whichever words I choose to use. Thanks for reading.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
J.Nystrom you missed my point--please note I wrote "like that."
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
Sam, I believe that's the exact purpose of God. To be thrown everywhere, as (s)he is already everyone and everwhere. Show some love and acceptance. Skyjockey43-- nice pointing fingers. Kulanova, I've got your back.
Sam S Smith
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
Please do not throw God around like that.
Skyjockey43
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
Since you are quoting scripture I'm certain that you'll now follow that directive and open up your home to the first available camp take notice camper. ........right? What's with all the crickets?
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
What Would Jesus Do?
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
@oyxclean: CTNers certainly know how to help themselves! Have you ever camped by a highway during a Michigan winter? One of the great things about CTN is that it's not simply a handout. Campers are strongly encouraged to to contribute to the well-being of the community and to their own process of vanquishing homelessness.
WakeUpNow
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:36 a.m.
Jesus helps those who CAN'T help themselves. If they can help themselves, why do they need Jesus?
mpope
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
Jesus never said he only helps those who help themselves. In fact, He demonstrated the opposite. But st paul did say ' if you dont work you dont eat' because even in first generation Christianity, some people were exploiting the generosity of the Christian community. So these people should work, right?? That seems to be the standard solution, right? Yeah. Ok. Who's going to hire ostensibly unhirable people? Who's going to mentor those few who do find a job? Who's going to support the few brave employees and help them navigate this type of potentially risky hire? They should get jobs. File that under 'H' for Helluva Lot Easier Said Than Done.
clownfish
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
Post judgmental opinions on a blog? oyxclean- they were helping themselves, then the outraged citizens got involved and now all the taxpayers get to give out vouchers. Cool, huh?
oyxclean
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
Jesus would probably say something like, "I help those who help themselves."
Real Life
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
Probably, as most of the posters suggest, have families be taken in by individuals within the Church community and within the Church community work to find them work and homes. But then, faith-based solutions takes the power out of the hands of government nannies.
kulanova
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I ***command*** you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:02 p.m.
I agree with Julie. I don't know if this is what you were getting at, but in my opinion, it's fear that bothers people. Fear of the unknown. Fear of becoming as financially desperate as some of these people, which in this economy, can happen to anyone in an instant. I think it's also important to realize that people who are having financial difficulties may be experiencing them simply because of the class they were born into and the lack of resources available to them within that economic structure.
Julie
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
I don't believe it's the fact that they are "poor" that is bothering people.
kulanova
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
We not only need to build, we will build. People will come. So glad to be a part of the "big hug" of Ann Arbor.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
Very good. Now you are catching on. Ann Arbor wants these people because they think they have the money and can afford it. You folks built the shelter, now give them a place to stay. Otherwise if you don't like it? Vote in new people to represent you. Otherwise enjoy the panhandlers.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
"Despite the fact that the Michigan Department of Transportation is adamant about not having another camp on its land, Durrance said the need for the camp remains. "We need to rebuild the camp as quickly as possible," he said." Sounds to me like Brian Durance needs to schedule a meeting between himself, his checkbook, and a real estate agent.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
Unusual Suspect Members of MISSION and their church supporters are already investigating options. The need is strong for a permanent camp in the Ann Arbor area. We are hoping that we can garner community support to make that happen. Anyone with ideas about parcels of land that might meet our needs can contact us at www.tentcitymichigan.org. Thanks
xmo
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
Why is this Ann Arbor's Problem? They should set up Camp in Ypsilanti where there is AFFORDABLE housing and more people who live their "LIFE STYLE"!
Laila Hamdan
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
Continuing in the pattern of dairy6, I work, pay all my own bills, attend school full-time, and volunteer any remaining "free" time to good causes. I also live in Ypsilanti and I will not apologize for my lifestyle.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
I just increased your vote to more negative. This is the worse thing I have ever heard. You are living in the dark ages my friend. Ypsilanti is cleaning up their image and getting rid of blight. It is Ann Arbor that are the bleeding liberals and this is why you folks are getting the homeless. because you built that homeless shelter not us. We knew wisely. Sorry, but we don't live the homeless style and i find this highly offensive. This my friend is every ones problem. Including yours.
Madeleine Borthwick
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
xmo, I am thoroughly tired of people slamming Ypsilanti. I have several friends who happen to live there where, by the way, rent is less expensive. Ypsilanti is not one giant cesspool as so many people seem to think!!!!!!
clownfish
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
What is "their LIFE STYLE"?
Pamela Bethune
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
What inspections need to be completed before they move in? That is a statement as to one of the reasons why this is taking so long. My immediate assumption is that the nanny state has intervened on behalf of people who were, let's see if I remember this right, oh yes -living in tents! So now the state has to approve their housing. Please! Stop! The! Insanity!
gladys
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:03 p.m.
Most rental properties ask about income, previous rentals (were they evicted), criminal records before they accept anyone (voucher or not).
motorcycleminer
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
This is Ann Arbor ..The only thing that moves with speed is " art for the masses " or one of prince john and his merry bands pet projects...
justcary
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
Feldscher, I'm glad you're covering this. But you have to take yourself out of the story. Last week sympathizers had signs up along the fence. Where was your Jimmy Olsen? Better to let the photos say it. And please, let an editor look at your work before posting. "However, the exact number of former campers who have been housed varies based on who is speaking." this is creative writing, not reporting. The exact number does NOT vary. It is simply not known. That's only the first problem with that sentence. Oh crikey, you've turned me into one of these horrible bellyachers commenting at annarbor.com!
AAW
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
I wonder if the few people living at Washetnaw and Carpenter/Hogback and US-23 north bound exit are part of the take notice group. I also wonder if the people that I have seen standing at that exit, State Street exit, Jackson Ave exit, in front of Kroger on Carpenter Roads are all part of the take notice group. Several of the people are young women (late teenagers to mid-20's). All carrying signs, never make eye contact and look so sad. Makes me wonder.
Jeffersonian
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
(Durrance) said people are still being referred to MISSION and there are more and more people coming into the Ann Arbor community with no place to go. A huge part of the problem is that many of these people are coming to Ann Arbor from outside of the community. When people are able to find better accomdatrions they will migrate. Ironically the harder that Ann Arbor's good people try to help the worse the problem becomes. Ask any panhandler on a downtown street where they are from and the reply is almost always a place outside of Washtenaw County.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Jeffersonian Respectfully, Ann Arbor is a transient community. Most of the people in Ann Arbor came from somewhere else. People are attracted to Ann Arbor not only because of the social services but because of the economic opportunities. Many homeless people come from other areas seeking employment, but are not able to make enough money to sustain housing. MISSION is simply addressing a growing human need.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
That private property sign really bothered me when I saw it go up. One of the worst things about this- it sets a precedent that this state land is somehow private property. I was planning on taking the dead ash trees along Wagner out of the site for firewood, and now there is a fence! Paid for by my tax dollars. I visited that camp one day with a friend, and found the site to be in good order, there was no trash around, everything was neat and clean. I was working on a street adjacent to the site, Elizabeth, and the homeowner was not even aware of the camp. At that point I thought that it was ok that they were living there, I tried to picture what I might do if I lost my home, and this seemed like a reasonable solution. Also, it is state land, and as such belongs to us all, for reasonable and safe use. However, a few weeks later I was speaking to some "street people" for lack of a better description, and one of them told me that he had set up 2 tents at that camp, and was renting them out to others for a small profit. In my opinion that mans opportunism crossed the line between a charitable use of the common resource (the state land) and taking advantage of the good will of the community for profit. The next day I saw the que of campers waiting for the bus on Wagner, the bikes chained to the trees and guardrails, the cars parked near the intersections, and my opinion of the legality of this encampment had completely changed. I am sorry for these folks having been displaced, but perhaps the few bad apples once again are as much to blame for this closure as anyone.
DJBudSonic
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
I only take the trees that are about to fall on the roadway, and the wood stays in the county, I never move firewood more than a few miles. I leave any trees that have bark remaining or show any signs of animal habitation. I like to think of it as a public service.
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:47 a.m.
Dear DJBudSonic, I am thankful for your honest account of the camp as you witnessed it. As an advocate for this community I struggled at first reading it but had to admit that it had the ring of someone stating it exactly as they saw it. I am grateful that you noted that the camp was neat and clean with no trash visible. You wouldn't believe the amount of work that goes into keeping the community looking sharp. We, the people of Camp Take Notice, take significant pride in our cleanliness. I realize that your account of an individual profitting in what must be the world's smallest rental market also stands a good chance of having happened. Please note that it was the actions of just one member of our community. It appeared that misparked bikes and cars were frustrating but that it was this person's oportunism that really turned you off. This much is true, there are plenty of unsavory characters out there in the world, in all walks of life but we should not let the actions of a single unlikable person be the reason that we through in the towel on a whole group of people. Regarding the misplaced bikes and cars: MISSION (the nonprofit that supports CTN) also recognized the vehicles as a safety hazard. We implored MDOT to give us permision to correct these problems (at our own significant expense). MDOT turned around and decided to evict instead and (here is galling part) they used the very safety concerns that we were asking for permission to correct as the reason for our eviction. In a nutshell, an access road (with a widened shoulder for a turn off lane) from Wagner would have allow vehicles to get in and out without obstructing traffic. Additionally that same access road would allow portapotties to be delivered and serviced. Finally, that access road would have made Fire, Police and EMS responses possible.
jen777
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
Public land does not mean unfettered access. i can also ask if these people pay taxes to the state. I realize people are homeless for some real reasons but there have been offers help. I am not sure to what degree the general populace shoud help - ir can become endless.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Uh, you're also not allowed to remove trees from state land without permission, even if they're dead.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
It is state land, but it is not park land. Nor is it a KOA. Don't read too much into the signs. They were obviously purchased off the shelf and were not manufactured and worded specifically for this purpose. The significant part of the signs is the "no trespassing" part. State-owned land is not a free-for-all. You can't camp on an expressway median. You're not even supposed to be on it. Just like you can't camp in Liberty Square in downtown Ann Arbor. No, I'm wrong - if you're an Occupy hippie, then it's OK.
clownfish
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Taking this story along with recent ones in national media, I was hoping that the COO of Chik Fil A would help out the less fortunate in our society. You know, in order to keep God from pulling his hand from our nation. After all, Jesus had nothing to say about gay marriage, but an awful lot to say about poor people. Just sayin'...
clownfish
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
Yes, I clearly recall the scripture wherein Jesus opened a falafel hut and hired all "the poors" in Jerusalem. The COO has a perfect right to his opinions and the right to give as he chooses. You have never seen me argue anything to the contrary, ever. He states that God will remove his blessing from the USA if we allow gay people to marry. My point is that God allegedly sent His Son to Earth, where he blessed the poor and downtrodden, telling us we would be judged by how we treat the least among us. As far as we can tell he said nothing about gay people. So, given Mr Cathy's deep concern for our nations soul, I thought maybe there would be some concern for those least. I guess I am wrong. I have no idea what Islam has to do with anything on this topic, but thanks for bringing it up anyway.
Skyjockey43
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
ahhh yes, when all else fails you trot out the easy and convenient punching bag that is Chik-Fil-A because, horror of horrors, the CEO has a different opinion than yours regarding gay marriage and financially supports groups that share his ideals. Of course, in this case, he and his business provides jobs to thousands who can then support themselves rather than the CTN folks who CHOOSE not to work. Of course that doesn't matter at all to the liberal mindset does it. Now there is an organization that is much more intolerant of the gay lifestyle and provides far fewer jobs to people who need work. But I seriously doubt that I'll ever see you holding up any of our local mosques for the same kind of venom you typically spew here
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Yeah, he should do something for people, like hire them. Of course, that only helps people who are willing to work.
GoNavy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
Are these people permanent wards of the state? Is it now our responsibility to find housing for these people?
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:28 a.m.
I believe the question being asked by GoNavy might otherwise be stated: "Are we our brother's keeper?" Good question.
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
Well, at least six or seven of the campers are veterans, some serving more than 5 years. Judging by your username, I'm assuming that you're supportive of veterans, so perhaps you will agree with me when I say that if you or I are well-off enough to take responsibility, then we should try our hardest to at least provide affordable housing and services to those who have risked their lives and well-being for our country. If you were one of those veterans who had fallen on hard times due to the emotional or physical wounds from battle, I would hope I could offer you at least a place to lay your head where you wouldn't be harrassed for trying to get a good night's sleep. Go Navy.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
I could not agree more.
Halter
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Is this a news story or another opinion piece?? Since its listed as a news story, all those paragraphs in this article that are personal opinion should be gone, and anything attributed to other people should be in quotation marks. For example: While the camp might have been an imperfect solution, it offered community and protection for people who might have otherwise been turning to crime, he said. There's hope that supporters of the camp will purchase land for a new camp, or that a local church group might allow a camp to be formed on its land, he said.
Julie
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
Interesting, while Mr Durrance believes the camp needs to reopen, I notice he didn't offer to open it up in his backyard. As for all of the people who have made snide, snarky comments over the past couple of months to the homeowners that don't want this camp in their backyard, it's time to put up. You want to do something to help? Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Get involved in helping to find a real housing solution for the residents of this camp. It's easy to sit back and enjoy your Sunday morning, when you don't have to worry about who might be walking through your backyard at any given time, day or night.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
Julie I certainly understand your sentiment. And you should know that MISSION members and church supporters are inviting those displaced by MDOT to stay in their homes and back yards. They are also working to rebuild the camp because the MSHDA program and the Delonis Center simply cannot address the needs of those who are homeless. MISSION and CTN have always striven to be the best neighbors and will continue to do so at our next site. We welcome neighbor participation in our decision making process and would be happy to speak with anyone who has concerns. Please contact us at www.tentcitymichigan.org
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:25 a.m.
Julie, Mr. Durrance gets his hands dirty with this work in the very way that you just challenged him. My hats off to the man, Brian Durrance, who is not afraid of who might walk through his backyard - likely this is because he has already befriended the people who might do so.
Charles Cooley
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.
Many MISSION members are having former campers stay at their homes. I am sure Mr. Durrance has extended similar hospitality in the past if he is not doing so now. And in his house, not his yard.
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
They should also fence off all the lakes so those annoying freeloaders - AKA the public - don't dirty them up. Public land shouldn't be public to "those" people. If you can't pay, you can't play.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
At least that is two that are off the streets;. Any other takers?
Brad
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
Sounds more like slackers than homeless.
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
I have two homeless friends staying at my house. That enough for you?
Brad
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
So how many have you invited to stay with you?
golfer
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
keep it closed. very simple solution. they have been removed from several places wounder why?? maybe they will stop asking for money at the exits. buying beer and what ever. i am sure not all are like this. but if they can not qualify for housing look at the reasons. i could not get a loan for a house if i had the same reasons. maybe some will go to other city's vs coming to ann arbor from other citys.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
Mort Respectfully, Camp Take Notice has a strict anti panhandling policy. This policy was implemented out of respect for our neighbors. Anyone who is caught panhandling is immediately removed from CTN and that policy will continue when we re-establish our next camp. The people that you see panhandling along the highways tend to be those who are maintaining housing. The people you see panhandling around liquor stores tend to be those who are maintaining drug and alcohol habits. The people at CTN are those who have chosen a better path.
golfer
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 11 a.m.
j nystrom try driving down stadium and you will see them at the exits. drive down by saline and you will see the same. try getting out more. first of all let get something straight. i feel sorry for them in the winter when it is cold,. i feel sorry for them when it is really hot. i really do. but when they take money and use it on stuff to drink and get into cars and drive away. it gets me thinking. they should be using it to buy meds. i do not know but someone should hand out meds. tricky thing to do but that beats booze and drugs. i even seen a lady hand out a bag of mick d's to one person. then the light changed. after she was gone he threw it away. what i am saying some are sick, i understand that. but mdot owes the property they have a say on what they do. just like you own your house. your boss at work . you still have a say. is it a problem yes it is. i wish it would be solved and each person would be ok. i still think exit is not all what it is supposed to be. giving money to survive.. i think and the word it think it is a scam. when you get into a car and drive away. when you take you bike out of a truck bed and drive it to an exit. that is something wrong. i applaud people whom are trying to help. but if i do not want you on my land go some place else. maybe try another town. this is my final posting on this subject because it is a no win no matter what you or i say.
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:18 a.m.
Mort (I like the ring of that name by the way - it is hard to be too frustrated with someone named Mort) your perspective is downright rational and many people are likely to agree with you – specifically this statement "maybe some will go to another city" [if we don't encourage their freeloading - my interpretation of your words]. As one who works closely with the people of Camp Take Notice, I admit that there is certainly some that qualify as freeloaders. Additionally, the point at which you and may agree is this sentence that you wrote: "i am sure not all are like this." This is true. Many are not like that. I believe that we should not judge an entire community based on the embarrassing behavior of a few people. Most of the homeless are ashamed of their situation and they do their best to keep it a secret. Those that you witness as panhandlers and alcoholics do not represent the larger silent majority of the homeless. Regardless, someone needs to extend kindness to the beggars and bums alike. How else will they escape the learned behavior of helplessness unless they encounter someone with more time than money?
J. Nystrom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5:01 a.m.
PS- If you change your mind about wanting to talk to them, you are welcome to attend a Town Hall meeting at the U of M School of Social Work on August 19th. A meal will be served at 6pm.
J. Nystrom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 5 a.m.
Hi Mort. I don't know which people you're talking about, but your descriptions are still pretty broad. You are certainly not required to give to panhandlers, and even as a supporter of CTN I do not hand out cash to those asking because I'd rather donate in other ways. I don't think those people panhandling make much money either, so I guess I don't expect them to make purchases much bigger than beer or chips... Those campers that do have jobs definitely do pay taxes on their income. I pay taxes, too, and I pay them so that if you were to fall onto hard times and there were no family or friends to take care of you, you would have a place to go and a meal to eat, and there would be someone to help you out and treat you like a neighbor.
golfer
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
J. NYSTROM sorry but when i see them asking for money at the exits. then go behind westgate. hop in a car and drive away. then i see the same guy on saline exit. i have seen them pull out cell phones and talk. i have seen them take money then buy case of beer and chips. no i have not talked to them and i do not plan on it. what i want them to do is pay the IRS on the money they make. i have to pay on the money i make.
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
You're right Mort, "not all are like this." Some are veterans who spent 8 or more years serving our country. Some are parents who have placed their children with family members and given up living in a home so that they can save up money to pay for their children's necessities. Some are the most generous, loving people you'd ever meet, but you wouldn't know that because it sounds like you've never met them. Perhaps housing shouldn't be the test for "success," especially since most banks and lenders are predatory-- see the housing crash of 2008.
ownrdgd
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.
It'll be a cold day in hell before there camp comes back to life on wagner road or any other road in this county. Any church or other venue thinking about opening there land to these people will be met with zoning issues.
gladys
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
Any updates on local churches providing daytime or overnite shelter, job hunting techniques, info on drug therapy programs for the "campers"?
Jon Wax
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
... give em a rifle and an axe and point em toward Alaska. It's still one of the states. you can live off the land. nobody is going to evict you from your land. a large group might do well up there, provided they are willing to work. Peace
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
Jon, the purpose of Camp is not to round up people into exile, it is to provide a non-permanent place for people to stay until they can find affordable housing, get back on their feet, etc. These people want to be productive members of society just like you and me, but it's rather hard to do that when you've been systematically ignored since birth due to race, gender, or socioeconomic background. "No (hu)man is an island;" we've all been supported by others at some point in our lives, often more than we ever know it.
bobr
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
Too bad Alaska ended the free homestead system in 1986.
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Good plan, jns131, I bet all those poors would find some real good jobs in North Dakota. Where did acquire your economic expertise? You sure have some solid ideas.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
I heard ND has a 1% unemployment rate. Maybe they should go there?
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Yeah! Send all those poors as far away as possible but keep them in America ™! One nation under God ™, Second Amendment ™, etc...
pbehjatnia
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
work would be the point of failure here.....
Jeffersonian
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
Funny, Alaska leads the country in public releif claims.
BernieP
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
How about a voucher for a rifle and an axe only redeemable within Alaska?
pbehjatnia
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Having been homeless, I have no sympathy for any of the campers. They are not Robin and his Band living in Sherwood Forest. They are a group of people who choose the lifestyle they have. They can also choose something else. Take you your good deeds and money elsewhere - like kid's charities or something. These people don't want change - they want your money and your time and anything else they can get to keep their lives (and habits) the way they are.
J. Nystrom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:48 a.m.
To skyjockey, pbehjatnia, and A2 guy-- I know many members of CTN personally and many of them work full-time; however, the living wage for Ann Arbor is a suggested $12.44/hour in order to afford an efficiency apartment, and many minimum-wage jobs (like the ones you mentioned, skyjockey, are $5 short of that.) I don't believe that a person's ability to work should affect how we treat them. I won't be providing you with evidence of every member's ability or disability to work because that is confidential information, and I would hope that if any of you ever fell on hard times due to illness, loss, or forces beyond your control, you wouldn't be required to explain yourself either. Also, this so-called reality that we live in says that the only kind of meaningful work is the kind that gives us a check. I don't quite think that's right. Pbehjatnia, I'm sorry you didn't have enough resources growing up, and I'm glad you've found a way to take care of yourself now, but please don't speak that way about people you don't know. Your "theys" are quite broad. Also, A2Guy, I don't know if you had a bad interaction with a camper that caused you to believe that they are not grateful for the help they have, or what caused you to believe that-- perhaps you need to check your own entitlement. The campers I know thank me all the time, and I in-turn thank them. They humble me each day with their patience, diligence, and compassion. There is a Town Hall meeting coming up at the School of Social Work on August 19th at 6pm. You are invited to come and participate in the community.
A2Guy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
Amen Skyjockey. Totally hit the nail on the head!!!
A2Guy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
I agree with you although there are some that do want to change. There is also a huge degree of entitlement and lack of gratitude for the help that is being given to many. I guess we will find out in a year when the subsidy runs out. My guess is we will be in the same old squirrel cage. I think this is a band aid.
Skyjockey43
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
I couldn't disagree more. If he had been homeless and decided NOT to take advantage of the lowest unemployment rate in the city and the seemingly endless supply of help wanted signs around town (including 350 job openings at the new Costco), and instead decided to sit around on someone else's property doing nothing except whining about all the cold hearted (working) people who won't give up what they've earned, maybe THEN he'd have empathy for their "plight". And before you start with the same old liberal talking points about how they're incapable of employment due to psychiatric issues, please point out any factual evidence that all (or any) of these freeloaders can't work ANY job to support themselves.
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
"You haven't been homeless. If your summer sublet ran out and you had a week between apartments, that doesn't count as homeless." Haha. Exactly. If you were actually homeless, you'd have empathy for those who shared your plight. However, if you really were homeless for a while and you talk about homeless people like that, you obviously overcame homelessness and embraced heartlessness.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
I hate to say it, but I kind of agree with this statement.
pbehjatnia
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
@rgranger: your comments never deserve a thoughtful response. @cary: sorry to disappoint darling but i am not the product of a wealthy household and i have been paying my own way since my early teens. get a clue - oh and an adjustment for the snotty 'tude.
justcary
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
You haven't been homeless. If your summer sublet ran out and you had a week between apartments, that doesn't count as homeless.
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
"They are a group of people who choose the lifestyle they have. They can also choose something else." Wow, so you know the circumstances and story of each individual? Do tell!
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
It's Sunday. So we can expect lots of judgement and "brotherly love" to be shown in the comments.
Michigan Man
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 6:52 p.m.
Some people need to dust off their Holy Bibles, worry about themselves and stop taking shots at those who attend church, regardless of whether it is Sunday or any other day of week.
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
@pbehjatnia: I cannot possibly compete with your judgemental posting where you insist everyone in the group is exactly the same: "They are not Robin and his Band living in Sherwood Forest. They are a group of people who choose the lifestyle they have. They can also choose something else. Take you your good deeds and money elsewhere - like kid's charities or something. These people don't want change - they want your money and your time and anything else they can get to keep their lives (and habits) the way they are."
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
Thank you, pbehjatnia. On target.
pbehjatnia
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
actually you do a fine job in the judgement area all by yourself.
antikvetch
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
I hear the streets of California are paved with gold. Maybe the former Campers should go check that out....
antikvetch
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
Why give the people who can't afford to travel anything at all? Why not let them earn it?
Billy Bob Schwartz
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
Maybe you should, too. Why give the people who can't afford to travel all the fun?
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
I heard San Francisco takes in everyone. Do what Jackson County does?
Jimmy McNulty
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:54 a.m.
Sorry- I see vouchers were provided after I re-read it.
Jimmy McNulty
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
In what form does this 1-year housing subsidy come? Cash? A voucher for $6,000 (12 X $500 est.)? Was the voucher given up front to the homeless person?
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:47 a.m.
Having been present at the summit of 45 state, county and city officials, I can testify that those that are providing these funds are adamant about insisting that "subsidies" and not "vouchers" have been provided. The difference is that a subsidy (specifically TBRA - Temporary Based Rent Assistance) is good for one year only while vouchers imply a continued supplementation. Additional point of correction: When the state made the decision to close the camp -- sometime near February of 2012 (approximation based on inference) there was only forty people at CTN. There was only forty people because it was cold outside and our population is significantly less than the warmer months, when Delonis shuts down the extra sleeping space available on the first floor. Regardless, by the time that news was broken to the residents of Camp Take Notice, our population had reached 68 people. The state continued with the plans that they had been working on for months and transferred to the Washtenaw Housing Alliance the funds to house 40 "households." PORT then added its own criteria restricting the subsidies from the following categories: those that made more than 660 per month, illegal aliens, veterams and those that were not member of CTN on the day that news of the subsidies was made public. This reduced the pool of eligible campers to 33. 2 of those campers have left Ann Arbor. If the best case scenario occurs and 31 campers are housed, less than half of the camp's population will have made it into housing. The perception by many is that the homeless of this community have been housed. While some have been, most will not be inside this winter. Not included in the above numbers are those homeless individuals that are new to being destitue but exceed the shelter spaces available locally. Those people are now unable to access the relative safety of Camp Take Notice.
Charles Cooley
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
It is a subsidy. 1/3 of any income a person makes must go to rent if they find housing. No cash goes to the person. It is paid directly to the landlord.
tdw
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
This is off topic ( I guess ) the the photo shows a no trespassing sign that says "private property" isn't it state property ?
Middle America
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 10:28 a.m.
It is funny how so many people support not being able to access land that their tax dollars pay for.
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:03 a.m.
It is property owned by the people of the state of Michigan whose legal representation is had through the Michigan Department of Transportation. MDOT has the responsibility to execute their duties to the best of their ability while the people of Michigan have the responsibility to inform MDOT when the execution of their charter exceeds the greater interests of the public. No, this land is not for public use, however it could certainly be made available for public use should the public realize that orphaned, unused scraps of land seized through eminent domain can utilize the very same philosophy to repurpose state land for better uses.
tdw
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
Suspect.......I know, I was just commenting on the sign itself ( nothing more )
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
It is public, but that doesn't mean you can go on it any time you want. We all own the US Navy's aircraft carriers, but we don't have free access to them. There are rules. Trespassing can happen on public property. Plus, there were probably no signs at the store that said, "No Trespassing - Public Property."
Ron Granger
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
It is public property.
Itchy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:35 a.m.
I do not understand what the comment means - "it offered community and protection for people who might have otherwise been turning to crime........". Someone please explain this.
calebpoirier
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:50 a.m.
Tonight I had a conversation with the fellow that made that statement. He said that his quote was not correctly recorded. The intent behind his original statement was meant to convey that those that cannot sleep at CTN must sleep somewhere, and that in doing so, they had exist somewhere where there presence is not sanctioned but instead is criminalized. Example: sleeping in a parking structure or sleeping in UM library or a public park. All of these places will result in trespass tickets.
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:09 a.m.
I am really happy that so many people on annarbor.com got mad when the residents of Camp Take Notice received money for rent.
Middle America
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 10:25 a.m.
Thanks for the info, CTN MISSION.
CTN MISSION
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:17 a.m.
Middle America Your point is well taken. It takes $750 per month plus utilities or $11,500 per year just to pay the rent for 1 homeless person. Certainly this is not the best way to spend tax payer money. MISSION and CTN house over 300 homeless people for less than $20,000 in 2011. And they didn't charge the tax payers one thin dime. Furthermore MISSION and CTN help campers to achieve true self-sufficiency. Housing vouchers don't get people to where they need to be. They just put homelessness behind closed doors. If you would like to learn more about how you can help members of the homeless community achieve true self-sufficiency, please visit www.tentcity.michigan.org. If you would like to express your anger at the way tax payer money is being used, we urge you to contact Governor Snyder who created the program. Please urge him to reconsider his decision to shut down CAMP TAKE NOTICE which was a self-sufficient model community completely funded by church donations. Thanks in advance for your support!
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
No, I am just really happy. Anything that upsets the average annarbor.com commenter who believes he or she is really smart is great.
BernieP
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
Alarmed, angry, yet not necessarily surprised.
OLDTIMER3
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:04 a.m.
former campers are allowed to stay in the building all day — provided they remain sober — and receive any services they need. Shouldn't it say FORMER CAMPERS ARE ALLOWED TO STAY IN BUILDING ALL DAY AND RECEIVE ANY SERVICES THEY NEED PROVIDED THEY REMAIN SOBER. The way it reads almost sounds like they receive these servbices anyway.
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
This is actually untrue-- campers are not allowed to stay in the shelter all day. The rules are different for campers. They must move out of the dining room, where they sleep on the floor, at about 7am, and then they may come back around 8:30am until 5, when they are not allowed to return until 9pm. Thank goodness the shelter has been flexible in changing the hours to let them stay there in the afternoon.
Middle America
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:10 a.m.
Calm down. You are just rearranging words for no reason. It means the same thing either way.
motorcycleminer
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 10:44 a.m.
I respectfully suggest that all these " missionites " simply open their own homes up for these folks ..problem solved...
bluecollar
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
@Nolin How is that the police are harrassing them?
Charles Cooley
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 2:45 a.m.
Lots of "missionites" are doing just that. I personally know MISSION members who are letting former CTN residents stay in their homes.
Madeleine Borthwick
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
are you willing to do so yourself? if not, then please don't suggest that other people do something that you aren't prepared to do.
jns131
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
I could not agree more with this statement.
PLGreen
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
@Goober; Why a UofM undeveloped property. Why not a City of Ann Arbor undeveloped property. This is not a UofM problem, but a City problem.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
Don't let the door hit ya Halter
Halter
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
I suggest we move it to Canton
Goober
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
We must have compassion for those that have fallen on hard times, no matter what the cause. I still think we should take one of the UofM undeveloped properties, far from residential neighborhoods and turn it over to the churches to manage as CTN II.