We wrote this, in part, to help answer some of the community's questions related to the Econo Lodge.
Numbered streets neighborhood
City of Battle Creek and local service agency staffs know that we are home to neighbors facing the issues of both affording and accessing housing, and we continue our work together to understand those, and develop programs to help neighbors achieve one of our basic needs.
Barriers affecting our neighbors include past evictions, criminal records, and the inability to a first/last month’s rent and security deposit. Because of this, we know some neighbors live in our local shelters, in hotels and motels, or on the street.
Most recently, the city is pursuing a lawsuit against Econo Lodge, 165 Capital Ave. SW, to declare this hotel a public nuisance; police responded to 475 calls there in 2018 and early 2019, the highest call volume for a hotel/motel in the city. However, staff is sensitive to the fact that this displaces neighbors living there on a long-term basis. As of this writing, the city and hotel ownership reached a settlement in which the hotel will close for 90 days, starting in mid-December.
With this in mind, representatives from the Battle Creek Police Department, Summit Pointe, and the Calhoun County Homeless Coalition traveled door to door at the hotel, offering services to those neighbors.
Some already had moved out. Staff members spoke with other neighbors, connecting some to needed services, and leaving information for others. It is important to remember that some who would be eligible for local services do not want this help, and refuse it when offered.
We recognize that some people from the Econo Lodge may now live at other hotels and motels. The community together is working on a variety of programs and strategies to assist these neighbors and others in similar situations:
1. City staff hope to present to the City Commission in December a hotel/motel ordinance that could provide more oversight. Administrators hope to use this as a framework for improving conditions at other troubled hotels and motels in Battle Creek.
2. Neighbors who want to explore local services should call 211 – this is a direct connection to Summit Pointe and other agencies that can assist with housing, mental health services, and much more.
3. The city’s Community Development team is a collaborator in this type of work, and is in the midst of the next five-year Consolidated Plan, a guide for how the city spends federal funds on housing and other public needs. One of the overarching goals in the upcoming 2020-2024 plan is “to ensure a safe, prosperous, and equitable community by creating strong, sustainable, and inclusive neighborhoods and quality affordable homes for all people of Battle Creek.” The priority within that goal is “affordable, accessible, and safe housing,” which strengthens a community. Objectives within that priority are:
a. Ensure safety of rental housing
b. Increase number and diversity of housing options
c. Preserve and maintain existing affordable units
d. Increase access to affordable housing
4. Community Development staff regularly participate in collaborative work aimed at engaging landlords interested in “second chance” rentals, in order to make housing more accessible to those who experience barriers.
5. Other agencies also are participating in collaborative work to address housing affordability and accessibility. Legal Services of South Central Michigan offers help related to a variety of eviction situations, and many other housing-related needs. Some faith-based organizations are analyzing an affordable housing location in the city.
The team will work together, and with outside agencies, on ideas and programs to work toward these objectives.
Post Addition neighborhood