Help Us Support Our Neighbors from Dietrich Park Before Their Temporary Shelter Runs Out

This winter more than 50 neighbors experiencing homelessness who have lived at the long standing encampment near Dietrich Park, were forced to uproot their lives when a court order required the camp to be cleared. After years of surviving in makeshift tents through extreme weather, the city worked with local officials to provide temporary housing. Under this agreement, the City of Lansing is paying for six weeks of hotel rooms at the Causeway Bay Motel in South Lansing to offer warmth, safety, and short term stability.

While this temporary placement is life saving, there is a serious and urgent problem. Once the six week hotel stay ends, residents will be returned to the street if permanent housing has not been secured. Lansing’s affordable housing options already stretched thin, most residents face the very real possibility of being displaced again in the middle of winter.

These are people who built a community at Dietrich Park and are now living in hotel rooms with uncertainty about what comes next. Many lost belongings during the relocation. Most have limited income, few resources, and little access to food, laundry, transportation, or ongoing support services. Some of the residents are veterans, disabled, & elderly, while others serve as caregivers.

Why Your Support Matters

Organizations are stepping in to support these neighbors during the six weeks they are housed and to prepare for what happens when that time runs out. Donations raised through this campaign will be used for:

Food support to ensure residents have consistent, nutritious meals
General assistance and support for when the hotel stay ends
Laundry services so people can maintain clean clothing and basic dignity
Essential items including clothing, hygiene supplies, and winter gear
Transportation assistance such as bus passes and rides to appointments and work

The Reality They Face

Advocates and service providers have been clear that six weeks is not enough time to resolve long term housing instability. Many residents are navigating systems with long waitlists, limited availability, and significant barriers. Without community support, the progress made during this hotel stay will be lost, and people will once again be forced to survive outside.

This campaign exists to bridge that gap. We are committed to standing with these neighbors not just during the hotel stay, but through the transition that follows.

How You Can Help

Please consider making a donation today. Your contribution will directly support people currently staying at the Causeway Bay Motel and help prepare them for what comes next. Every dollar matters.

Current Events To Support The Camp

(COMPLETE) December 21st - December 24th - Rented a 15' U-Haul truck and transported items to storage units provided by Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center and Punks with Lunch (with your donations).
(ONGOING) Volunteers are providing transportation to and from a laundromat and your donations provided the funds to pay for their laundry.

Previous Events To Support The Camp

Summary of Important Dates:

(COMPLETED) August 8th & 9th - Provided 1st 30 cubic yard dumpster for camp, hosted cleanup event.
(COMPLETED) August 13th & 16th - Provided 2nd 30 cubic yard dumpster for camp, rented front loader & filled both dumpsters.
(COMPLETED) August 17th & 18th - Provided 10 fire extuingshers and fire blankets and mounted them to trees around camp. Acquired groceries for camp meal.
(COMPLETED) August 23rd - Laundry run for the camp. Your donations paid for residents of the camp to have their laundry cleaned.
(COMPLETED) September 20th - 2nd laundry run for the camp. Your donations paid for residents of the camp to have their laundry cleaned.
(COMPLETED) Wednesday September 24th - 6-730PM - RiTDH Donation Drive at the Fledge
(COMPLETED) Friday September 26th - 9 PM - 1 AM - Benefit for the residents of the camp at The Avenue
(COMPLETED) Sunday September 28th 1 - 6PM, Weekly Nourishment meeting at the Fledge (see above)
(COMPLETED) Wednesday October 1st - 1PM - Court hearing
(COMPLETED) Monday September 29th - 7PM - City Council Meeting, camp residents and supporters advocate for housing.
(COMPLETED) October 4th - Distributed pallets to camp.
(COMPLETED) October 5th - Distributed a $50 Meijer gift card to each camp resident.
(COMPLETED) October 7th - Provided camp dinner to residents
(COMPLETED) October 12th - Provided camp with crates & subfloor to elevate tents. Provided hammers, nails, duct tape, staple guns and staples to assist with the work.
(COMPLETED) October 14th - Provided camp dinner to residents (ceased camp dinners to use remaining funds for winter survival)
(COMPLETED) October 17th - Distribution of 20 12x20 tarps and 12 large moving blankets.
(COMPLETED) November 2nd - Provided lunch and distributed clothing.
(COMPLETED) November 4th - Distribution of 33 tarps 12x20 and larger, 48 wool blankets, 6000 sq feet of Tyvek Home wrap for ground coverage and additional wind/snow/rain protection.
(COMPLETED) November 5th - Distribution of 32 Carbon Monoxide detectors for every tent or structure at the camp.
(COMPLETED) November 12th - Distributed $2000 of Home Depot gift cards to camp residents to purchase items to survive the cold weather.
(COMPLETED) Every weekend one day of camp lunch and essential item distribution.
(COMPLETED) Every Wednesday @ 1pm at the Veteran's Memorial Courtroom in court room #5, Judge Aquilina held "check-in" hearings with the landowner and the City Attorney. We encouraged advocates for the camp to join the camp residents who attended the proceedings.

Camp Cleanup - The residents and volunteers filled two 30 cubic yard dumpsters with trash and debris. Trash that the residents had wanted to remove but did not have the means. Direct private donations of $1,550 funded the dumpsters & front loader with no administrative fees. Like this funding page, Punks with Lunch does not and will never charge administrative fees to help this camp. Every dollar goes directly toward items requested by camp residents.

You can see some of our initial efforts starting the cleanup from this news story on Lansing WLNS Channel 6 -> LINK TO WLNS STORY

Fire Safety - 10 Fire Extinguishers were mounted to trees around the camp. 10 Fire Blankets were distributed.

BEFORE

AFTER

Suggested giving levels

$5 - $1000 — General support for the camp.
Transparency

All future spending decisions will be made collaboratively by the Punks With Lunch Board, with direct input from former camp residents.

Punks with Lunch is a registered 501c3 serving the unhoused community since 2019. Donations to this cause are tax deductible.

Help keep the former Dietrich Park camp residents safe & supported

By Punks With Lunch Lansing

Help keep the former Dietrich Park camp residents safe & supported

The move leaves them re-establishing routines and food sources. Let’s help lessen their burden!

Team Members