Safe Housing for Migrant Workers
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are often housed at migrant labor housing sites, aka “camps,” which can be groupings of trailers, huge one-shelter barracks, multiplex row units, or houses. Their housing must be licensed with the State each season for occupancy. For the duration of their labor contract or growing season, workers live in these isolated rural areas.
Conditions we encounter may involve unsafe structures, water, sanitation, rodent or bedbug infestations, open sewer pits, overcrowding, unlicensed occupied units, broken stairs or handrails, and other hazards.
Migrant Legal Aid defends worker’s rights to stable and safe housing and stability, through its mobile outreach, education, and observation of conditions. In addition to our legal action, counsel, and advice for unfair or discriminatory housing concerns, we also make referrals to state and/or federal inspectors.
There are approximately 1,000 migrant labor sites in Michigan. For example, Kent County alone usually has about 85 registered labor housing sites seasonally.