Lansing mayoral candidates talk to the homeless

LANSING — Three of the four candidates for the office of mayor attended a forum to talk to the homeless population about what each would do for that constituency if elected.

In attendance were Mayor Virgil Bernero, Councilmember Carol Wood and Lansing School Board member Charles Ford. Ben Hassenger, a student, did not attend. In addition to mayoral candidates, the forum featured candidates from the at-large races as well as the Fourth Ward. No candidates from the Second Ward race attended the meeting.

The event was organized by Michigan People’s Action and held at Open Doors Ministries’ weekly lunch event in the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing.

Each of the candidates present were asked to answer three questions about services and housing for the homeless. Top among the issues was a question about whether or not to allow an independent evaluation of a burnt out housing facility in downtown Lansing to be turned into a center for the homeless. The building, Oliver Towers, is controlled by the Lansing Housing Commission, and was emptied as the result of an arson years ago.

Advocates and the homeless say the building, which has 100 apartments in it, would be a perfect location to develop housing for the homeless. Opponents, including the city’s Director of Human Relations and Community Services Department Joan Jackson Johnson, say housing the homeless in a high density situation is not acceptable.

The question at the core of the issue is that Michigan People’s Action and Open Door Ministries say they have the money to revamp the facility and make it usable again. But the Lansing Housing Commission is refusing to allow independent assessors to tour the burnt out building to determine the extent of the damage to the building and possible costs to repair it.

All three candidates for mayor said that while they could not direct the Lansing Housing Commission, they would each work to make an independent assessment a reality.

“We have to have a debate based on accurate information, so I have no problem opening it up,” Bernero said. “It’s public property.”

“It’s incumbent that we have transparency within this question,” said Wood, “to make sure we understand…whether this is a viable building that can continue to be there or if there are enough issues with it that it needs to be taken down.”

“I would definitely like to see an inspection take place,” said Ford. Ford also said he supported the supported the idea of making the property a location for permanent housing for the homeless, citing examples in larger cities like New York City and Los Angeles.

The second question asked dealt with the question as to whether the Mayor’s office would direct the city to provide an expect $1 million in stimulus funds directed at the homeless for nonprofit organizations to assist the homeless in locating and renting apartments.

“The answer’s yes,” said Ford. “I don’t think the [stimulus money] is going to be enough.”

Bernero said the city was looking at purchasing foreclosed properties, in conjunction with the Ingham County Land Bank, as part of an “integrated” response to homelessness.

Wood said she would support such a move, but with a caveat.

“We need to make sure we are providing the right housing for the right people,” she said, noting that housing needs were different for a homeless family of six than for a single person who is homeless.

All three said they would support the development of centralized services for the poor and homeless, the afternoon’s third and final question.