Mills Street encampment to be closed by the City of Kalamazoo next week

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A homeless encampment on Kalamazoo’s northeast side will officially be dismantled next week.

The City of Kalamazoo Friday announced that it would close the Mills Street encampment Wednesday, April 14 at 5:00 p.m. The site is located in the Kalamazoo River flood zone and the City said it is evacuating the area out of an abundance of caution to protect residents. The Mills Street site experienced swift moving flood waters during the flood of 2018.

“As the seasons change and we anticipate more rain, we are taking the proactive step of closing the Mills Street encampment,” said Ryan Bridges, Public Information Officer for the City of Kalamazoo. “The City has been communicating with residents of the encampment for the last few weeks to let them know this was coming, and area housing and social services partners have been in contact with the residents. Most have already left the site, and those remaining are aware they have to leave by April 14.”

In the weeks leading up to the closure next week, all encampment residents were offered the option of relocating to a local hotel. In total, approximately 120 people are currently being housed in 85 rooms at the hotel.

Additionally, a contractor for the city has cleared more than 600 cubic yards of trash and abandoned debris from the Mills Street and Ampersee encampments. Cleaning efforts continue at both sites.