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One man is trying to end homelessness with this hotel

1,471 views · Published 30 December 2015 · 0:59 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: Humankind · 2015 · News & Politics

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The Magnuson Hotel in Lansing, Michigan is known as the 'Homeless Hotel' now that it houses 147 beds for the homeless. Mike Karl is hoping to end homelessness with this facility.

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By Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal 

It's a Tuesday morning in late November and Mike Karl is in the lobby of the Magnuson Hotel. He’s talking to Patricia Bright, who’s homeless. And, at the moment, broke.

Karl simultaneously plays the role of disciplinarian, mentor, counselor and cheerleader.

He’s used to wearing lots of hats.

"Just take a deep breath," he said. "I know it's hard but focus on the next steps. That's what I want to see."

Karl takes money from his wallet and hands her a few dollars to cover prescription co-pays for anxiety medication waiting at a local pharmacy.

"Don't spend it on anything else," he says. "If you come back to me in two days and say you don't have your medicine then I'll know you didn't spend it on that. Consequences. Everything is a choice."

Bright had been on the streets just a week earlier, evicted from her Lansing apartment.

Her room at the South Lansing hotel could be a stepping stone "to getting a place and being stable again," she said.

It is being paid for through Homeless Angels. Karl, 38, founded the nonprofit nearly two years ago after his own stint at a homeless camp in the midst of a financial crisis a decade ago.

Today, Homeless Angels' presence at the Magnuson, located off South Pennsylvania Avenue just north of Interstate 96, is evident.
 
For more of the story, click here: http://on.lsj.com/1ZBWdGX

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