LANSING, Mich. (AP) — As local governments across Michigan attempt to balance the growing need for homeless services with community concerns, one is planning a novel approach: mini housing pods.

The city of Lansing last month approved the purchase and storage of 50 modular housing units — called ModPods — for $640,000 from a Kalamazoo nonprofit that had given up plans to use them in that community.

It will cost local taxpayers another $750,000 a year to upkeep the mini homes, and they won’t be ready to use this winter when temperatures drop to levels that put people without homes at risk.

While some Kalamazoo residents had complained about the potential location of the housing pods, Lansing is taking its time to consider various city-owned locations. Advocates are ho

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