Detroit's encampment response combines sanitation cleanups with mandatory outreach. Public Works gives 72-hour notice before any tent removal, and Mayor's Office on Homelessness must offer shelter or housing navigation before disposal of personal property.
Detroit Public Works coordinates encampment sanitation under a 2021 Mayor's Office protocol revised in 2024. Before any cleanup, the Department of Health (DHD), Mayor's Office on Homelessness, and CAM outreach team must visit the site, provide written 72-hour notice, document personal property, and offer access to shelter beds, hotel vouchers, or rapid rehousing slots. Items not voluntarily relocated are tagged, bagged, and stored 60 days at a city facility for retrieval. Hazardous materials, biohazards, and abandoned tents may be disposed immediately. The Detroit Continuum of Care funds outreach via HUD-funded street outreach grants and the State of Michigan's Emergency Solutions Grant program.
Skipping outreach or property storage: civil suit under federal Lavan v. City of Los Angeles parallels, possible federal injunction, $1,500 per incident administrative penalty.
Detroit, MI
Unlike many West Coast cities, Detroit does not prohibit sitting, lying, or sleeping on public sidewalks. Title 38 (public ways) requires only that pedestria...
Detroit, MI
Detroit's Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM) is the single entry point to homelessness services. Operated by Homeless Action Network of Detroit, CAM screens ...
See how Detroit's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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