JACKSON, Mich. (News 10) – The Jackson City Council has passed a new ordinance aimed at restricting the storage of unattended and excess personal property in public areas, a move that critics and residents fear will exacerbate the struggles of the local homeless population.
Ordinance No. 2026-03, which passed on Tuesday, is scheduled to take effect in 30 days.
It officially classifies unattended personal property, tents erected without a permit, and cumulative belongings that exceed the volume of a 32-gallon container as public nuisances.
The decision comes on the heels of the city clearing a downtown homeless encampment in July, a move that pushed many unsheltered residents further into the margins of the “Rose City.”
Life thorny in the Rose City
For Kevin Hardman, a 71-year-old Jackson resident, life has offered little comfort.
“I don’t know where I could really get a job,” Hardman said.
On Wednesday, Hardman spent his day carrying bags of bottles and cans along Michigan Avenue to raise money for dinner.
Earlier in the day, city workers gave him mac and cheese, his first meal of the day.
His evening took a rosier turn when a local resident named Beth provided him with three additional bags of cans and drove him to Walmart to redeem them.
“I’m not here to judge, I’m just here to help,” Beth said.
On the other side of Michigan Avenue, Lucille Valle sat charging her phone before heading to her next temporary spot.
Valle stays on the streets during the summer and relies on friends to keep her out of the cold during the winter
She keeps a tight grip on her cart of belongings under the city’s new regulations.
“It’s scary. It’s really scary,” Valle said. “Most homeless people, what are they going to do with their things?”
Despite her fears, Valle expressed empathy for local business owners.
“A lot of people don’t like coming down when they see the tents coming here. I don’t blame the businesses,” she added.
Inside the Ordinance: Warning Periods and Free Retrieval
The ordinance is written to be “content-neutral and status-neutral,” meaning it applies to all members of the public equally.
Under the new guidelines, city employees are required to adhere to specific protocols when handling personal property:
- 24-Hour Warning: City staff must issue a written pre-removal notice at least 24 hours before impounding unattended items, except in high-pedestrian downtown areas where a shorter four-hour notice policy may apply.
- Immediate Exceptions: Belongings that block ADA-accessible routes, building entrances, or fire department connections can be moved or impounded immediately without prior notice.
- 30-Day Storage and Free Retrieval: Impounded property will be stored for 30 days. Owners can reclaim their belongings at no cost and are not required to show a government-issued ID.
- Essential Items Protected: The city must separately inventory and protect “essential personal property” under two cubic feet, including medications, medical devices, and legal documents.
- No Criminal Penalties: The ordinance does not establish civil infractions, tickets, fines, or jail time. Enforcement is limited strictly to the removal and storage of the items.
Community Reaction
While supporters argue the ordinance will keep Jackson’s public spaces safe, clean, and accessible, opponents believe it sidesteps the root causes of homelessness.
Jackson resident Jeannie Brown called the ordinance ineffective.
“I think it’s just going to keep getting worse and worse with the economy the way it is,” Brown said. “People are losing their homes too and being put out on the street.”
City Council Member Arlene Robinson voted against the measure, calling for more collaborative problem-solving.
“This issue could come before council again,” Robinson said. “We need to find out what their problems are which is creating the homelessness situation.”
News 10 reached out to the five council members who voted in favor of the ordinance.
Three could not be reached for comment, and two declined to comment, including Mayor Daniel Mahoney.
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