HILLSDALE, MI - A charity created to help homeless families in Hillsdale is suing the city months after the charity's encampment was demolished.
Attorneys representing Melissa Desjardin, operator of the nonprofit charities Hope Harbor and BMAK Charity Thrifts, filed a seven-count federal discrimination lawsuit against the City of Hillsdale Monday, March 23.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, claims the city discriminates against its local homeless population by making housing unavailable, refusing to make accommodations to address homelessness, employs intimidation tactics and violates federal disability laws, according to the lawsuit.
"There's a stigma attached to disabilities often and in particular when it involves things like substance use disorder and addiction," said Robin Wagner, an attorney representing Desjardin. "These folks are doing their best and Hope harbor provides safe wraparound services, shelter for them while they work and develop their capacities to live with their disability effectively and the city shut them down."
Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie did not respond to a request for comment.
In 2023, the City of Hillsdale reacted to its population of approximately 80 homeless individuals not by funding or supporting resources to address homelessness, but by banning overnight camping on its public lands, the lawsuit states.
Desjardin set up a small encampment, naming it Hope Harbor, for the homeless population on a private plot of land owned by her charity.
Hope Harbor quickly became a functional homelessness recovery program that sought to create a safe, drug-free environment where residents can practice recovery, develop healthy habits and life skills and transition successfully back into the community with sustainable permanent housing, the lawsuit states.
Hope Harbor was the only sober transitional housing facility in Hillsdale County, according to the lawsuit.
From April 2023 to September 2025 the charity had helped 330 homeless individuals, including 154 men, 92 women and 58 children, according to the lawsuit.
On Oct. 16, 2025, the city authorized the dismantling of the camp, evicting the families staying there at the time and fining the charity more than $3,500, the lawsuit states.
The charity quickly located a vacant building and made efforts to turn it into the new Hope Harbor to continue its efforts to help the county's homeless population, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims the city made efforts to stop the charity by engaging in aggressive code enforcement, discriminatory zoning denials and public vilification.
"The city was not a passive municipal participant refereeing a neutral dispute over land use. Rather, the city and its officials took a leading and active role in elevating, endorsing, and acting upon unfounded and discriminatory community opposition to Camp Hope,"
the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit is requesting the court to declare Hillsdale violated the federal fair housing act and issue a court order preventing the city from enforcing its camping ordinance.