DETROIT (WXYZ) — Chaos and fighting broke out at a tiny home where a woman is facing eviction on Detroit's west side on Tuesday.
It happened at the home of Taura Brown, and is the latest culmination of a fight between Brown and Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) in 36th District Court. The legal battle over rights to the tiny home has been ongoing for more than two years.
After a number of hearings and appeals, last week a judge told Taura Brown she had 10 days to vacate the tiny home on Monterey St.
Related: Detroit woman fights to stay in tiny house she hoped to own, claims eviction is retaliation
The collection of tiny houses in the area is owned by CCSS and part of a program for low-income residents to rent the homes. According to CCSS, anyone who remains in the house for seven years will be "given the opportunity to own the home and property."
CCSS says they believe Brown was using the property as a secondary home which violates the terms of the program. Brown, who denies that claim, says she has paid rent on time every month and there is nothing in her lease that requires her to spend a specific amount of time in the home.
"Obviously (eviction) doesn’t feel good. However, like I said I’m feeling confident about fighting back. We’re not done. We’re just getting started," said Brown. "This is a lie. She told people that she was giving us tiny houses. I’m not being evicted because I was never home. I’m not being evicted because I didn’t live here 50% of the time. I’m being evicted cause I’m a Black person that has the nerve to speak out against the serfdom."
On Tuesday, bailiffs showed up to evict Brown, but were faced with dozens of people at the home stopping bailiffs from entering.
The housing activists say they were already on high alert, after Brown said shots were fired at her home at 5:30 a.m. a few hours before the eviction order was set to be carried out. Detroit Police say they are investigating the claim but it's unclear the source of the alleged shot.
"This has been an over two year long battle and it’s just extremely frustrating, heartbreaking. I feel just really angry at this point because this shouldn’t have happened," said Sammie Lewis who is with the Detroit Eviction Defense. "Housing is a human right. Everybody deserves the right to have a safe and secure house."
During the demonstration, activists used tires to blockade movers from taking items out of Brown's home. They later moved the tires into the street in front of one of the movers vehicles to prevent them from leaving the block. The tires were later cleaned up from the street.
At one point, a vehicle was parked directly in front of a mover's truck to prevent the driver from moving. A tow truck arrived on scene to remove the car blocking the truck. Protesters physically blocked the tow trucks flatbed. One protester managed to get inside the tow truck drivers car, power it off, remove the keys and throw them toward the highway. Police were able to retrieve the keys and the blockade car was removed.
Despite several tense moments, no arrests were made. Detroit Police say they were there to maintain peace. The department is typically not involved in evictions.
"This is a sad and unfortunate situation. You hate to see anyone being put out of their home for whatever reason and again our role here as the Detroit Police Department is just to make sure we’re keeping the peace," said Deputy Chief DeShaune Sims.
Brown says she plans to take more legal action.
"(Fowler) paints this narrative that we’re all homeless derelicts, which makes it okay to treat us any kind of way, which is why no one questions why she’s trying to police how often I come and go," said Brown. "It’s disappointing. It’s distressing. I’m uncomfortable but I’m not broken. So, like I said this is what the city should expect when they wrongfully convict people."
7 Action news reached out to CCSS Executive Director Rev. Faith Fowler Tuesday morning for comment but did not hear back.
On March 22, 7 Action News received the following statement from Fowler in favor of Cass Community Social Services:
For over three years, Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) has provided housing for Ms. Taura Brown on Detroit’s west side, where she might live alongside other Detroiters as part of our agency’s anti-poverty program. Sadly, Ms. Brown has chosen from the beginning to make another residence her primary home, violating both the spirit and the conditions of the Tiny Homes program.
Her refusal to surrender the tiny house after her lease was not renewed in January of 2021 has deprived other low-income people the opportunity to live in, and eventually, own the home. Additionally, many people have suffered from her misinformation and slanderous attacks including her neighbors, CCSS staff members and myself.
After hearing Ms. Brown’s motion and Cass Community Social Services’ response, the court ruled on June 1, 2022, that CCSS was indeed justified in not renewing its lease with Ms. Brown. The court ordered her to leave the Tiny Home by July 1, 2022. She appealed the decision. The Third Circuit Court affirmed the lower court’s opinion on September 14, 2022. On October 28, 2022, Ms. Brown filed a motion for reconsideration with the court. A court date was set to hear the motion on December 19, 2022. In that court date, the Judge again affirmed the order and agreed to allow her until January 9, 2023, to vacate the premises. Ms. Brown then filed several motions which were heard on Tuesday, March 22, 2023. Judge Shawn Jacque, 36th District Court, denied her motions, affirmed the ruling of the Court and signed the writ (Order of Eviction) and afforded Ms. Brown an additional ten days to vacate. In addition to the court proceedings Ms. Brown has filed numerous complaints with federal, state and local agencies, all of which were dismissed or the equivalent of dismissed after receiving substantiated proof by CCSS to their illegitimacy.
The Cass Tiny Homes were never intended to serve as second homes or to sit empty. They were designed to provide people with safe and affordable rental housing which would convert into homeownership after seven years. There is no shortage of Detroiters who need this type of housing, not as an investment property, but their primary residence.
CCSS stopped receiving rent from Ms. Brown in February of 2021 (25 months ago). During yesterday’s court proceedings Ms. Brown told Judge Jacque she currently has an account holding the equivalent of all her rent money, what would equal more than $7,500. We wish Ms. Brown well and regret that this issue could not have been resolved in a more respectful manner and without court involvement. In the future, we look forward to working with another person or family and continuing our commitment to our community and people seeking to escape poverty.
