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4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HOMELESSNESS On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Ypsilanti City Council held its biweekly meeting. On the agenda was “Resolution 2026-142,” a resolution that would initiate a homeless encampment eviction, also known as a “sweep.” The camp in question is located on a former city dump south of the BellKramer neighborhood. It has been occupied by people experiencing homelessness for more than a year, with a rotating stream of inhabitants. Currently, there are five people seeking shelter there. Here is “Resolution No. 2026-142 Authorizing the Removal of the Encampment at Kramer Street and Bell Street" truncated for space: “Whereas the encampment located near Kramer Street and Bell Street has generated significant concerns from nearby homeowners ... “And whereas the city recognizes that homeowners and long-term residents are taxpayers who rely upon the city to protect community well-being and uphold municipal ordinances ... “And whereas the city also acknowledges that individuals residing in the encampment are experiencing housing instability, economic hardship, and vulnerable circumstances, and that these residents deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect ... “Whereas the ongoing conditions at the encampment present health and safety risks both to the individuals living there and to the surrounding neighborhood ... “And whereas the city has coordinated with community partners, outreach teams, and service agencies to ensure that the residents of the encampment are offered appropriate resources, including shelter options, transportation, available connections to housing support services, and referral to mental health, addiction treatment, and other relevant providers ... “And whereas the City Council seeks to balance the rights and needs of homeowners with the urgent humanitarian needs of residents experiencing homelessness ... “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Ypsilanti that city staff, in coordination with social service partners, are hereby authorized to proceed with the removal of the encampment at Kramer and Bell Street in a manner that is: 1. Lawful and in full compliance with local ordinances, state law, and constitutional requirements. 2. Respectful, ensuring that all individuals residing in the encampment execution plan. It does not state when the removal should occur, nor does it establish a timeline for partnering with community agencies. In fact, had the resolution been JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 are informed, treated with dignity, and given reasonable time to gather their belongings. 3. Compassionate, requesting that service providers be present prior to and during the clearing process to offer shelter placement, outreach support, case management connections, and transportation when appropriate. 4. Accountable, ensuring that all actions taken are documented and that the property is restored to a clean, safe, and accessible condition following the removal. 5. Collaborative, encouraging continued partnership with housing agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community members to address the broader issue of homelessness in a sustainable and humane manner. “Be it further resolved that the City Council reaffirms its commitment to long-term strategies aimed at expanding affordable housing, supporting homelessness prevention programs, and strengthening outreach and crisis response systems within the City of Ypsilanti.” While the language of the resolution contains elements of both compassion and accountability, it is still an order to remove an encampment. It acknowledges the neighbors’ need for safety from illegal activities and recognizes that the inhabitants of the Bell-Kramer encampment also have rights, that they are seeking housing and employment, and in order to get those things, they need support. Simply put, it boils down to “remove the encampment” and “set them up for success before it is removed.” Removal can literally happen overnight, whereas the support will take weeks or months to properly secure. Council Member Me’Chelle King strongly supported approving and activating the resolution that night. Even though she did not write the resolution, it was her idea after visiting Bell-Kramer homeowner Michelle Simmons, accompanied by Mayor Nicole Brown. Mayor Pro Tem Steve Wilcoxen was the first to notice that the resolution was more like a statement of intent as opposed to an approved, the only thing that could have happened next would have been for the police to clear out the camp. Council Member Amber Fellows tried to table the resolution until a plan could be put in place. King pushed back, saying the neighborhood wanted immediate action and something had to be determined that night. Ultimately, the resolution was tabled until July 21 in order to give City Manager Andrew Hellenga time to accomplish tasks that would set the encampment residents up for success. Here are some of the relevant minutes: Council Member King moved to approve the resolution authorizing the removal of the encampment. Council Member Roland Tooson seconded the motion. Council Member Fellows moved, supported by Council Member Desirae Simmons, to table it to the next meeting on July 21 in order to make a plan that is consistent with the intentions of the resolution. The motion to table failed upon a roll call vote as follows: Yes: (2) Desirae Simmons, Amber Fellows No: (5) Me'Chelle King, Roland Tooson, Steve Wilcoxen, Nicole Brown, Patrick McLean Council Member Fellows moved, supported by Council Member Simmons, to amend the resolution to have the city manager meet with certain parties. Upon discussion, the motion was withdrawn. Mayor Pro Tem Wilcoxen moved to table the resolution. Council Member Patrick McLean seconded the motion. Yes: (5) Steve Wilcoxen, Nicole Brown, Patrick McLean, Amber Fellows, Desirae Simmons No: (2) Me'Chelle King, Roland Tooson One community member who spoke during public comments was Ben Foster from the homeless solidarity and mutual aid group Washtenaw Camp Outreach. Foster is a resident of Ypsilanti who spends a great deal of time interacting and supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness. For many years he has been watching City Council, neighbors, landlords, the police, business owners, activists and unsheltered citizens battle over property rights versus human rights. As a community leader, Foster keeps an eye on the government and non-profit claims, efforts, and efficacy. JULY 10, 2026 Notice This: Ypsi Bell-Kramer homeless encampment eviction “Andrew Hellenga was given some homework. Do you know if he has made any progress?” I asked. “Yes and no,” Foster replied. “One homework assignment was to arrange a meeting with the Bell-Kramer neighborhood, the camp residents, WCO, LEAF, PATH, and Home of New Vision.” LEAF, which stands for Liberation, Empathy, Advocacy and Future, is a state-sanctioned harm reduction program and facility. The Home of New Vision is a substance-abuse resource program, and PATH, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, is a Community Mental Health program that reaches out to homeless populations with mental health services and resources. “Do you know when that meeting’s gonna happen?” “Yeah, so that is the piece of the puzzle that has not been figured out [at the time of this interview]. As far as, like, what has been accomplished so far, there’s been a 20-yard dumpster delivered and a commitment from the city that the dumpster will be emptied as needed, and that they’ve reached out to SHINE (Supportive Hands in Neighborhood Enhancement, a city post-incarceration transition program), which has been contracting with the city to clean up the trash at other encampments.” “Someone said PATH was going out there at least once a week. Is that true?” I asked. “I think they’ve increased their frequency. I don’t know if it’s true or not, as far as whether the folks who live at the camp have confirmed that or not. But, yeah, I don’t know,” Foster replied. Foster explained, “The resources that PATH can offer people are to assist you with identification paperwork, help you access drug treatment resources or mental health treatment resources, get you on a path towards permanent supportive housing, and they can get the ball rolling on these bureaucratic processes that take a really long time to bear fruit.” Foster continued, “Specifically, there are people at the camp that have been trying to get jobs because they say, ‘Even if we get housing, how are we going to pay for utilities? How are we gonna pay whatever portion of our rent we have to pay? How are we gonna pay for food? How are we going to afford the expenses that come with living in an apartment as opposed to living in a tent?’ Which are valid questions, because the main barrier to some of them getting jobs is their criminal backgrounds.” see EVICTION page 6 

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