Are You Living in a Brothel?

A coupla weeks ago on a sunny Friday morning, I was sitting in a meeting with my executive director (#KurtReppart #thebombdotcom #CityCommissioner #allaroundgooddude #itsnotflatteryifitstrue) and the couple that owns 4/5 of the housing cooperatives in Grand Rapids. We were discussing the elements of the zoning code that make it difficult to begin an unusual housing project, and I learned about the Brothel Laws.
Did you know about this? DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS??? Because I didn't and I am still trying to figure out who's gonna be the focus of my angry-letter-writing campaign. 

THESE are the Brothel Laws: In the city of Grand Rapids, it is ILLEGAL for more than four unrelated persons to live in one unit together. A family of six, seven, eight, nine (or more) people can share a housing unit (depending on fire codes, of course. Not knockin' fire codes), yet five non-family roommates is Just Too Many. Your house has five bedrooms? Sorry, guess one of 'em has to sit empty. Or two of your roommates have to get married to each other before you can invite someone to occupy the extra bedroom.

I was stunned and infuriated by this revelation. A quote by Wesley Hill had been digging its little hookies into my brain for the last few days: "I imagine Christian communities in which friendships are celebrated and honored-- where it's normal for families to live near or with single people; where it's expected that celibate gay people would form significant attachments to other single people, families, and pastors; where it's standard practice for friends to spend holidays together or share vacations; where it's not out of the ordinary for friends to consider staying put, resisting the allure of constant mobility, for the sake of their friendships."*

As someone who has been single for a quarter century (#goingstrongdespiteoccasionalselfpity), alternative visions to the traditional one-family home are increasingly important to me. And the Brothel Laws seem to be puttin' a little dampy-wampy on singles (and/or childless couples) living together in community. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO START A COMMUNE WITH ONLY FOUR PEOPLEEEEEE????? (mostly joking)


So today I'm doing a little digging into why the Brothel Laws exist and how I can DESTROY THEM.

Alrighty, here is the ordinance in question, according to the Rental Property Owners Association:
In regards to one-, two-, or multiple-family housing units (unit being either an apartment or a house, and a "multiple-family" home presumably being an originally one-family home that has been split up into multiple apartments):


"The operative word in the above definition of dwelling is 'family.' The zoning code further defines 'family' as follows:

Family shall consist of one (1) of the following:

(a) An individual living in a single dwelling unit.

(b) A group of two (2) or more persons related by blood, marriage or legal adoption living in a single dwelling unit.

(c) Not more than six (6) foster care children living in a single dwelling unit. This provision is subject to P.A. 396 of 1976 as amended (MCL 125.583b).

(d) Not more than four (4) unrelated persons eighteen (18) years of age or older living in a single dwelling unit.

(e) Not more than six (6) foster care adults living in a single dwelling unit. This provision is subject to P.A. 218 of 1979 as amended (MCL 400.701 to 400.737)."**


So it's true. Grand Rapids housing code really does specify that four unrelated persons is the maximum allowable amount to share one unit (even a whole house!).

Why does this seemingly bizarre regulation exist? A couple minutes of digging suggests four primary reasons.

1. To prevent the formation of brothels (duh)
2. To prevent the formation of unwanted fraternities
3. To regulate parking 
4. To prevent the poor from paying rent jointly and moving into a better neighborhood.***

Again, the "Brothel Laws" are not the same as fire code, which regulates how many people can live within a certain square-footage, no matter their relationships. Some order is necessary, to protect tenants from abuse. (It made me shudder to type "Some order is necessary." Guess I'll just go register with the Libertarians now)

Despite my rip-roaring readiness to Destroy the System, I will admit (ugh) that some of these reasons (ick) make sense (aaaackk).
1. Brothels are Not the Ideal, especially when a. they create an uptick in related, dangerous crime (rape, drug use, etc.) and b. vulnerable women are drawn in by the promise of cheap housing and high wages. 
2. Fraternities are Also Not Ideal, Because They Are Filled With Doo-Doo Heads (generalization? ehhhh maybe maybe not) 
3. Neighbors have a right to parking; when more people live in one unit, there will almost inevitably be an increase in cars and therefore a decrease in available parking in the area. 
Aaaaand number 4 may sound like kind of a conspiracy theory (X-Factor X-Files music plays), but stranger things have happened than rich folks conspiring to keep out the poor folks. Actually, now that I am thinking about it, this is not a conspiracy theory at all. Look up "redlining."

So, although it hurts my own pseudo-anarchistic argument (not actually an anarchist), I have to admit that there ARE legitimate reasons to be concerned about the number of unrelated people sharing a dwelling-- in particular in regards to parking availability. It is much easier to argue against things that have zero redeeming qualities (such as Nazis, menstrual cramps, or marshmallow Peeps). It is much more difficult to advocate for or against things that live in the gray area. And when you hear the reasoning behind the Brothel Laws, what at first seemed like a nonsensical, overreaching regulation moves a little closer towards the gray.

making this GIF required me to write "sharting" sixteen times

As someone for whom community is incredibly important, the Brothel Laws are intolerable as-is. They don't allow for larger groups of single people to intentionally share life. Yet they should not be repealed until we find alternative solutions to the problems of overcrowding and parking. (I argue, however, that just because the 4-person rule gets lifted does not mean that everyone is suddenly going to rush out and bunk up with their budzz, causing these issues. It takes a particular type of person to commit to an intentionally communal lifestyle.)
 
What are the alternatives? What can we do? Perhaps limit the number of cars per household instead of the number of unrelated people? But that brings its own complications (it would be much more difficult to regulate). Turn abandoned lots into parking areas? Incentivize public transit and bicycling?

Before I descend into an in-depth examination of all the possible problems, solutions, and permutations thereof, let me sign off for the night (it took me several days to write this post because I kept getting SO ANGRY). This is just a first look at the Brothel Laws. Hopefully I will have some more information soon. Please leave comments/message me/invite yourself over for dinner if you have ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS WHATSOEVER. 

I will leave you with this oddly wise quote from my oddly wise little sister: "Only in math is there ever one solution."






References
*Hill, Wesley. As quoted in "Mere Sexuality: Rediscovering the Christian View of Sexuality" by Todd A. Wilson. Zondervan, Grand Rapids: 2017. 

** "Michigan: Determining the Number of Residents for Your Rental Unit." Rental Property Owners Association. Accessed 8/24/18. <https://rpoaonline.org/kb/determining-number-residents-rental-unit/>

*** "How many adults can rent a home together in Grand Rapids?" Reddit. Accessed 8/24/18. <https://www.reddit.com/r/grandrapids/comments/7s6jys/how_many_adults_can_rent_a_home_together_in_grand/
Reasons 1 and 2 are credited to Redditor "Oniketojen."
Reason 4 comes from user "Deadheadphonist."
Reason 3 comes from my brain.