Adrian, MI – Residents of the Adrian Inn will have until the middle of November to move out, as Housing Help of Lenawee is discontinuing the ‘Adrian Inn Supportive Housing Program.’
Executive Director of Housing Help of Lenawee, Sarah Buku, told WLEN News that with the reopening of the Riverview Terrace high-rise, Housing Help and the City of Adrian have fulfilled their obligation to the displaced residents of Riverview Terrace.
People were forced to leave the building on College Avenue after cracks were discovered throughout the building…forcing its closure in 2022.
Buku told WLEN News that Housing Help extended housing opportunities for additional community members seeking affordable temporary housing…along with supportive case management services while individuals sought permanent stable housing.
Housing Help has been leasing the Adrian Inn from the City of Adrian for two years, and have one more year on their agreement. Adrian City Administrator Greg Elliott told WLEN News that attorneys for both groups are in discussion about terminating the lease.
Elliott said that there was a rental housing inspection months ago, and sent the report to Housing Help…after it “took a while to get it written up.” Buku told WLEN News that her organization does not have necessary funds to fix the problems.
Elliott told WLEN News that it appears that the upkeep has gone substantially down over the course of the lease. Since the City owns the property and leases it to Housing Help, WLEN News asked Elliott about upkeep responsibilities at the Adrian Inn. He said that it was Housing Help’s responsibility.
When the Inn was purchased to house displaced Riverview Terrace residents, Elliott said that it was a requirement of those staying at the Inn to actively seek a permanent solution. The agreement also required Housing Help to house them for one year.
Housing Help of Lenawee will discontinue the Adrian Inn Supportive Housing program, effective November 13th of this year.
Administrator Elliott expects the City to have the keys to the Inn by the end of the year…then it will be up to the City Commission to decide what to do with it. He acknowledged that the property was blighted to begin with, and that it was a perennial problem with calls for service.
Housing Help of Lenawee says that they will continue to focus its efforts on core services, which include the role of the Lenawee County HARA, providing Housing First case management and financial assistance; managing Legacy Housing, Lenawee County’s only permanent supportive housing facility for chronically homeless individuals; the Veteran’s Dire Needs Fund; the County’s only four family transitional housing units and two emergency family shelters.
Executive Director Buku said that they recognize that this may create additional hardships and aim to assist in a smooth transition, as much as possible. She says Housing Help staff will be onsite weekly assisting the remaining residents as the program ends.
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