Help us instead of sweep us.

Smokie to City Council 7/28/25

“I am a resident of Dietrich in Lansing. I want you guys to look at me when I say that because this is disgraceful. The property owners have helped us more than the city of Lansing has. I was there from the beginning when it was only 13 people in the camp. I was there when the city came out and after I told them that I was a victim of domestic violence, told me that I would have to be displaced again. I came to this city for protection and to be with my family.

Almost every person in that camp is disabled. There are cancer patients that have been turned away from shelters in the camp. I, a homeless person, helped coordinate cleanups. I have helped coordinate resources more than even the things that are being paid for by taxpayer dollars. Why are you going to put your lack of care for my life and my family's life onto property owners and small businesses that are feeding this economy? The city also released incorrect statements about Dietrich, saying that we banned resources from being there. No, we were told that you cut funding from some of the best resources we have, which is Path Outreach. That's what we were told. According to the main founder, Tammy Serling, we were told that there were supposed to be medical units brought.

We were told that we were promised dumpsters. My people have cleaned. I know someone who lost over a hundred pounds cleaning up the camp. We will do the work ourselves if you give us the dumpsters. If you help us, we will do the work ourselves. We've built structures. My father came out there and helped me build a structure. I almost watched my friends lose limbs and their lives over the winter during the arctic blast where I took it upon myself to coordinate funding to help pay for heating. They bring up the fires. Those fires are due straight up to a lack of the fire department or anyone helping us get things like fire extinguishers. We had two fire extinguishers and they both been used. I personally called the fire department to see if there was a resource. Help us instead of sweep us.”