Mayor's Office: Housing Found For Tent City Residents
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) — City officials say the nearly dozen people camping in tents in a Detroit park have moved to housing two miles away.
Mayoral Chief of Staff Alexis Wiley tells The Detroit News Friday that the group took up an offer from the nonprofit Neighborhood Service Organization.
The housing is available through a city-funded program.
Mayor Mike Duggan said Thursday that the city would have to move the campers from the park near downtown to a shelter where they can stay warm.
Residents of the tent city had resisted previous pleas from social service agencies to move indoors.
City of Detroit spokesperson, Alexis Wiley said that the self-appointed mayor of tent city, Charles Jones -- or C.J. -- initiated the move.
"NSO (Neighborhood Service Organization) came out to the camp area and C.J. reached out to them and said, 'It's so cold for my friend out here and myself and this isn't a safe situation,' they would take a more permanent option."
The tents popped up in the park several months ago. The site is close to churches that offer food and other necessities and near freeways where some of the homeless seek handouts from motorists.
MORE: Detroit Mayor: Plan In Works To Clear Out Homeless' Tent City
Homeless Raise Tent City In Shadow Of Downtown Detroit
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