Lansing Gym Provides 49 Beds To Shelter Homeless

The Gier Community Center has partnered with over 20 local agencies to open its doors as a temporary homeless shelter amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Lansing State Journal, it all came to be after local entities noticed just how many people were not able to stay in already-existing shelters as Gov. Whitmer's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order continues.

"With more than 40 unsheltered people on the list, it wasn’t a matter of opening another bed or two," reported LSJ's Nate Atkins.

The temporary shelter at the Gier Community Center opened Friday with help from the Capital Region Housing Collaborative.

Operating as a nonprofit, the Housing Collaborative partnered with the community center to bring in 22 different local agencies including some of Lansing's shelters as well as state, county and city-level government entities.

CATA buses brought people to the community center Friday where they then checked in and received bags of necessities like bedding, toiletries and masks before entering the gym with 49 beds available, spaced out for social distancing.

Access to shelters was already proving to be a challenge during this pandemic, as shown by those staying at an encampment near Larch Street and East Saginaw Highway.

Residents there said the shutdown of local businesses also impacted their access to resources as simple as sinks to wash their hands in.

The temporary shelter at Gier Community Center is providing help to one of our most vulnerable populations at this time and you can always help by checking in with other local shelters and charities and seeing what they need.

Read on for more inspiring stories featuring communities coming together while staying apart.