East Lansing is ready to receive victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The city announced it has 150 rental units available and 90 spots open in its public school system for displaced persons Wednesday.
"We did a quick survey of landlords by phone and asked them what the availability was," Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said. "I think that it's wonderful we have done this, but the demand is going to be significantly less than the state thought it was going to be.
"Many evacuees are really reluctant to relocate 1,000 miles from their homes."
Some of the citizens from Louisiana were taken to the Michigan Army National Guard's Fort Custer Training Center near Battle Creek where they will be housed for three to seven days. During this time, they will receive medical treatment and get in touch with their families.
Other city officials also are helping out in other ways - they have raised nearly $2,000 in donations to be given to the American Red Cross and are sending four fire fighters to the south.
City Councilmember Bill Sharp said he believes that everyone should do their part to help all those touched by the hurricane.
"It's what we've got to do, that's the American way," he said. "If we can help them, I think it's wonderful."
The request to house some evacuees came after Gov. Jennifer Granholm called East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton, Sharp said.
"It came about by a conference call by the governor to our mayor," Sharp said. "They had a one-hour conference call while he was on the golf course."
The city's housing department conducted the survey of landlords to see who could help house refugees. Howard Asch, director of code enforcement and neighborhood conservation, said most landlords were happy to help.
"We explained to them that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was looking for places for refugees. There were several that didn't have any vacancies, but most of the others said they would be glad if their vacant units can be used that way."
This isn't the first time the city has helped the refugees, Golden said.
"We've gotten influxes of refugees from other countries and been asked to identify housing."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
