Around Michigan & State Government

Ninety-four Lansing residents, including children and elderly, have 11 days to find new homes

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published August 31, 2016 at 5:14 PM EDT

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has not spoken about why Lansing's former city attorney Janene McIntyre resigned, nor why she was given $160,000 in salary and accrued benefits.

Our conversation with Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has taken an unusual step – he’s declared a housing emergency in the Capitol city.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero declared a housing emergency in his city on Tuesday.

The declaration comes after a south side Lansing hotel informed dozens and dozens of residents they’ll be evicted in just the next few weeks.

Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson joined us today to talk about the situation and what’s being done to help these families and individuals through this abrupt transition.

“I feel like I’m drowning,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot going on, a lot of people to place, a lot of people that shouldn’t be where they are. And we’re hoping that through our community partners and resources from the state, the county, the city, that we’ll be able to improve the lives of the individuals, in particular the children and the seniors that find themselves in a situation at the Magnuson Hotel.”

For the full interview, listen above.

GUEST Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson is director of the Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department.

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