Citing serious life-safety hazards, Monroe officials have ordered the Oaks Village overnight homeless shelter to clear out, telling operators they must vacate the building at 1018 East Second Street by 4 p.m. tomorrow. The shutdown affects only the overnight shelter beds, while other services on the Oaks Village campus will stay open as the city and county scramble to find placements for people who have been sleeping there.
According to the City of Monroe, a Certificate of Occupancy inspection conducted under the State of Michigan building and fire codes found multiple critical deficiencies and concluded the “facility cannot safely remain occupied” until required corrections, permits and final inspections are complete. City staff say they worked with Oaks Village leadership for 22 months to resolve outstanding issues before issuing the vacate order, and that the building was initially used as a temporary warming center before it was shifted to year-round overnight use without the necessary zoning approvals or a certificate of occupancy.
Oaks Village and its services
Oaks Village, also known as Oaks of Righteousness, runs a campus of programs in Monroe that includes a food pantry, clothes closet, free medical clinic and recovery services, according to the 2025 annual report from Oaks Village. That report says Oaks housed 271 neighbors and provided 14,332 nights of shelter in 2025, figures that highlight how many people could feel the impact of the overnight-shelter closure. Oaks leaders and volunteers have positioned the campus as a high-volume local safety net for people in crisis.
What inspectors found
Inspectors cited a long list of problems: no required sprinkler system, no fire or carbon-monoxide alarm system, emergency exits blocked by flammable foam board, non-functioning exit signs and emergency lighting, exposed electrical boxes and widespread use of extension cords and power strips instead of permanent wiring. The inspection also flagged commercial kitchen ventilation and fire-suppression issues and a lack of accessible routes for people with mobility challenges. City officials said those conditions posed an imminent risk to occupants and staff and emphasized that the building is “not necessarily” permanently closed. It could reopen only after corrections are completed and a final occupancy inspection confirms compliance, according to the City of Monroe.
Where displaced residents will go
City officials say they are coordinating case management and placements with local partners, including the Monroe County Opportunity Program and the Homeless Network of Monroe County, CBS Detroit reported. The Monroe County Opportunity Program lists its main line as 734-241-2775 and posts weekday walk-in hours on its site for people seeking immediate assistance. Much of the county’s emergency shelter capacity comes from local nonprofits and faith-based partners, and officials say they are trying to minimize any gap in services while placements are arranged.
Oaks Village responds
Oaks Village posted on social media that staff and residents were not informed of the city’s move before it became public. The group wrote, in a post quoted by CBS Detroit, “we were not given the opportunity to do so.” Oaks leadership also told CBS they are working to fully understand the city’s directive and to support both residents and staff through the transition.
Why it matters
Beyond the scramble to secure immediate placements, the closure raises longer-term questions about capacity. Oaks’ report notes that, per HUD, only about 26% of homeless shelters in Michigan can accept families and children, a role Oaks has filled locally, which underscores the potential strain on county services if family-capable beds are lost. City officials say the building can reopen once the cited corrections, permitting and inspections are completed and a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
