Wayne County plans cleanup of homeless encampment behind Kroger in Westland after residents demand action
Wayne County crews are expected to return next week to clean up a long-running homeless encampment behind the Kroger near Michigan Avenue and Merriman Road in Westland. Residents say city officials have not done enough to address the site.
The camp is on county-owned land hidden from public view and accessible through several trails. A county official on the scene said remnants of the old Eloise Complex can still be found there.
Wayne County Parks Director Erika Smith visited the site for the first time on Sept. 25. She walked through a wooded, grassy area where tents, clothing and piles of garbage had been left behind.
“At the end of the day, these are human beings, you know, they have families, they are dealing with things that I can only imagine are so difficult,” Smith said.
Smith said the county’s immediate goal is to clean the area and connect residents with resources. She said the county also must keep the space clear while treating the people living there with dignity.
“There’s many sides to the issue and we’re trying to be as respectful as we can, but you know our responsibility on the park’s side is to make the park safe for visiting,” Smith said.
The encampment has been cleared before, but tents keep returning. Some people living there have recently become homeless. Others have used the site as an on-and-off home for years.
Neighbors began posting about the camp online after noticing it behind the supermarket. Keith Dallas, who shops in the area and said he was once homeless, said the city is not doing enough.
“You know I was once homeless before, so I understand the struggle. I understand what they’re going through, and it’s still people out here that need help,” Dallas said.
Westland resident Hollie Taylor said she does not believe enough help is available.
“I definitely don’t think there’s enough help for people, and that’s just what’s crazy. It doesn’t make sense,” Taylor said.
Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman said the encampment is not new. He said the land is within Westland’s borders but belongs to Wayne County.
“Because it’s government property, people can kind of go on there, and unless they’re asked to leave, they stay,” Coleman said. “Certainly some people are struggling and want to find housing. But also for some people, it’s a choice to kind of live outdoors.”
Coleman said he is pursuing state and federal funding to address homelessness in the community. Until that money is available, he said residents in need should go to the Wayne County Family Center or First Step Wayne.
Westland police said they have repeatedly intervened even though the land is under Wayne County Parks jurisdiction. Deputy Chief Robert Wilkie said Community Police Officers and a department Behavioral Health Clinician and Substance Use Disorder Specialist have visited the camp and spoken with people living there.
Wilkie said people who identified mental health or substance use challenges were offered services, but most declined. Officers also offered rides to homeless shelters, and most of those offers were declined as well.
During winter months, officers and clinicians have handed out coats that convert into sleeping bags and care packages containing winter clothing, socks and snacks.
Smith said the county is looking for organizations and individuals who may be able to assist and is encouraging community members to get involved. She said the issue is not unique to Wayne County.
“It’s a long-standing issue in many park systems across the country,” Smith said.
County crews are expected to begin the cleanup next week, giving encampment residents time to plan where they will go. Westland police said they will continue working with other agencies on the site.
