Missy DesJardin shows the inside of Camp Hope. Sydney Green | Collegian

The makeshift shelter has until Sept. 16 to meet zoning regulations

A makeshift shelter for the homeless faces a Sept. 16 deadline from the city to bring its operations into compliance with zoning regulations. 

Camp Hope, located behind Hillsdale Community Thrift, received the deadline at a court hearing Sept. 2. 

“I signed an agreement last week, agreeing to bring the camp into compliance or face a potential fine, and even the city’s right to tear down the shelter,” director Missy DesJardin said. “I’m working as fast as I can to figure out how we can stay open, but there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.”

Camp Hope, which currently houses 25 individuals, was founded in 2023 as a response to the city’s decision to ban camping on public grounds. DesJardin said she and her team set up the shelter to provide a safe space for homeless individuals avoiding the dangers of living on the streets or in the woods. 

“We started with 17 tents, but the city council came after me because if you have more than four tents, you are considered a campground and those are for recreational use only,” DesJardin said. “Then I ended up buying one big tent, but then the city has been working ever since to get it torn down.” 

According to City Assessor Kim Thomas, her main concern is that the tent does not meet zoning regulations, safety requirements, or the legal criteria for a dwelling. 

“There have been a lot of interactions between us and them where we have been trying to work with them to come up with a solution that would fit within the code,” Thomas said. “We recognize that there is a need for housing for unhoused people and commend their organization for wanting to help these people, but the problem is that they didn’t do it legally under the codes for the city or Michigan building code.” 

The 14-day deadline comes after DesJardin failed to relocate the shelter’s tenants by April 30 as requested by the Hillsdale City Council. DesJardin said she was issued a municipal civil infraction notice on May 1 for the violation, which later became a District Court ticket.

In response to the city’s concerns, DesJardin said she is trying to convert a storage building behind Hillsdale Community Thrift into a transitional living facility.

“We are working to add bunk beds and create a living space that meets city requirements for a residential facility,” DesJardin said. “We can’t just throw these people back out into the streets, and I don’t know what we will do if we can’t meet the deadline.”

Mia Cochran, a tenant at Camp Hope, said the resources the shelter provided for her family were invaluable. 

“I have three kids and became homeless in July. I was at my lowest, depressed, and ready to give up on everything,” Cochran said. “After seven weeks here, I found an apartment that I will move into soon with my family. I can say this place saved me and my family.”