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"Homeless and at-risk veterans need more than just shelter. We must give them the tools to empower themselves and reclaim the self-worth and dignity which comes from occupying a place in the American dream. " - Maria Cuomo Cole

November 11, 2024

If you are experiencing homelessness and need to get help, the process begins with contacting CAM (313) 305-0311

REMINDER

In observance of the Veteran’s Day holiday, CAM will be closed. Regular operating hours will resume the following day. Please go to camdetroit.org for more information.

CAM Call Line Operating hours:

Monday through Friday, 8am - 6pm

Visit camdetroit.org for the latest information on CAM services and any upcoming closures.

Other ways to access CAM services. Call CAM at (313) 305 - 0311 or go to one of the following Access Points for in-person assessments.

DHC Public Housing Waitlists Open

The Detroit Housing Commission's Public Housing Waiting Lists opened October 1, 2024.

All applicants must apply online at www.dhcmi.org. Applicants must be 18 years of age or a legally

emancipated minor at the time of wait list application. You MUST have an active email address in order to apply.

Scan the QR Code to Apply

Temporary Closure of Housing Choice Voucher Waitlists

HAND received notification from MSHDA that, effective July 1, 2024, all Housing Choice Voucher waitlists have been temporarily closed. Unfortunately, no reopening date has been provided at this time. During this period, no new submissions or recertifications will be accepted. The Detroit Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program will be closed until further notice. Please note that this closure does not impact the following MSHDA programs: Project-Based Vouchers and Stability Voucher program

For any questions or further assistance, please email info@camdetroit.org

For regular updates, subscribe to the CAM newsletter.

FY2024 CoC Application Submitted

October 25, the final FY2024 Detroit Continuum of Care Application and all project applications were submitted to HUD. The application and the Project Priority Listing have been publicly posted to HAND's website, and may be accessed here. This is the CoC application the CoC general membership voted to approve on October 15, 2024

If you have questions about the CoC Application, please contact Amanda Sternberg at amanda@handetroit.org.

General Membership Meeting

November 19, 2024 | 1:30pm EST

At the CoC Membership meeting, members will be asked to vote on new board members. Board members offer solutions to improve outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.

If you need to update who is a voting member for your agency, please contact Chelsea Johnson at chelsea@handetroit.org.

More information including applications and deadlines are available here. Stay tuned for further communications.

Reports

• 2024 PIT Count Report
• 2023 System Performance Measure (SPM)
• 2022 Data Brief for the Detroit CoC
• Detroit Homeless Response Strategic System Improvement Plan

Read more reports at handetroit.org/reports

MCTEH Summit on Ending Homelessness

Insights

Each year, different members in the Detroit CoC attend the MCTEH Summit on Ending Homelessness to learn, share, and collaborate with their peers working to end homelessness. This year, HAND's Youth Homelessness Coordinator, Meredith Baughman, joined a panel on youth homelessness alongside Azaria Terrell, a member of the Detroit Phoenix Center's Youth Action Board. The were able to share valuable insights and experiences with colleagues from across the state. Here’s what they had to share from their time at the Summit.

2024 Board Calendar-at-a Glance

The Board Calendar is a tentative timeline for various projects that are being worked on by the CoC.

Doors open, lights on at Dr. Maya Angelou Village

“Moving into the space of permanent supportive housing and affordable housing is a capstone to our mission,” says Dr. Celia S. Thomas, chief operating officer of Alternatives for Girls. The organization envisions a continuum of services, beginning with street outreach and shelter beds offered out of its Southwest Detroit campus to more permanent options that provide a bridge toward independence. 

“Having an apartment building allows us the chance to move from early interventions and prevention and help residents to stabilize in shelter in order to learn more about what they need to stabilize in a community,” says Thomas

Read the full article on Model D Media's website.

Urge Congress to Invest in Affordable Homes in Fiscal Year 2025

Robust federal investments for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs are needed to address the growing affordable housing and homelessness crisis in communities across the country. Sign on here to urge congress to support this critical funding.

Housing Homestretch Campaign

The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) and the Rent is Too High Coalition have partnered to launch the Housing Homestretch 2024 Campaign. The Campaign will convene to promote a set of legislative priorities during the November-December MI “Lame Duck” session. The legislature has yet to pass critical tenant protections that will change renters’ lives for the better. Join MCAH in their efforts to bring a final set of tenant protections to the finish line this legislative session by signing on to endorse their campaign as an individual or organization. You can also attend their Housing Homestretch Meetings to learn about other opportunities to participate.

• Download a summary of the legislation.
• Sign on to the support the bills here.
• NEW: Fill out MCAH's 2025 Policy Priorities Survey here

MiSide Fundraiser

MiSide is asking for your support to keep our Southeast Michigan neighbors safe this holiday season. Right now, your gift will make double the impact—every donation will be matched, up to $50,000, helping MiSide shelter twice as many people. With winter approaching, the need for safe spaces is critical, and they are relying on your compassion. Will you answer the call to keep our community warm and safe?

Make your impact today—click here to donate.

One Night without a Bed

The Detroit Phoenix Center's 5th Annual One Night Without a Bed (ONWAB) campaign begins November 1st during Youth Homelessness, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Month, with a series of activations happening throughout the month and Detroit Phoenix Center's (DPC) Youth-Led Overnight Service Kickback on November 29th.

Find out how you can participate here.

Sleepout: Michigan

November 21 | 6pm - November 22 | 8am

By giving up your bed for one night, you can ensure that youth facing homelessness will sleep safely at Covenant House. 

Covenant House welcomes every young person with love and respect. In addition to safe shelter, youth can access nourishing food, clean clothing, and essential services like job training, education, healthcare, mental health counseling, and legal aid — all the tools they need to build futures free from homelessness — at no cost to them. Sleep Out raises the funds that make this possible. 

Sleep Out is more than just a night without a bed. At Sleep Out, Covenant House residents share about their journeys through homelessness, experts empower us. 

Find registration and donation details here.

MCHS Holiday Fundraising Campaign

This year, you have a unique opportunity to make a genuine impact on the lives of children and families in our community!

In addition to supporting MCHS's entire Family of Services, your donation this year will help establish The Center for Pediatric Health and Wellness—a private, state-of-the-art facility offering behavioral and physical health services focused on addressing local children and families' acute mental health needs.

MCHS invites you to join them this holiday season in making history and forever changing the lives of children, youth, and families in need. Your generous support will brighten lives, bring hope, and light the way toward a brighter future.

House Your Neighbor is MCHS's commitment to providing safe, secure housing for those who need it most. With your donation, you can help a family find stability, keep a child warm, and provide a foundation for a better future.

 Donate here to house a neighbor in need.

November is Homeless Awareness Month

Homeless Awareness Month (HAM) takes place every November in Michigan to raise awareness about issues relating to housing insecurity and homelessness and to get communities invested in making a difference. MCAH promotes HAM throughout Michigan, providing support for local partner events and leading the state’s communication and awareness raising campaign. Their theme for this year is “Destination Home: Sharing the Common Goal of Housing For All”. Register your event to be shared in their public Homeless Awareness Month calendar, and help raise awareness through MCAH’s social media educational campaign on Facebook. More information including registration details are available on MCAH's website.

Prioritizing Access to Education and Supportive Services for Student Parents/Expectant Parents of Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness

November 12, 2024 | 3pm - 4:15pm EST

Join SchoolHouse Connection as they highlight two programs that expertly serve student parents/expectant parents of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness: The Student Age Parent Program in Beloit, Wisconsin and New Moms in Chicago, Illinois. 

Participants will hear from both programs how they innovatively serve expectant and first time parents through education and workforce development, while connecting infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness to high quality education and developmental supports.

Register for the webinar here.

Identifying and Addressing

Behavioral Health Needs in Encampments

Nov 13, 2024 | 2pm EST

People experiencing homelessness experience higher rates of behavioral health conditions, and many symptoms can be caused or exacerbated by their living situations. As communities across the country change how they respond to and interact with encampments, outreach workers, community health workers, and peers continue to be essential team members who foster relationships and trust with encampment residents. These front-line professionals are often first to notice the onset or changes in behavioral health symptoms and serve as trusted individuals who can help support a person across a spectrum of behavioral health needs. This webinar will discuss core principles and engagement techniques for providers to serve as a bridge to care for mental health, substance use, and medical needs. Participants will hear from community health workers and be able to ask questions before and during the session.

Register here.

Strengthening Renters’ Rights: Junk Fees Webinar

November 20, 2024 | 2pm EST

You're invited to join a joint webinar on "Strengthening Renters’ Rights: Junk Fees," hosted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Consumer Law Center. During this webinar, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about efforts undertaken at the federal, state, and local levels to address excessive rental fees, known commonly as “junk fees.” Attendees will hear from a broad range of speakers who are actively working on advocating for tenants’ rights at the federal, state, and local levels. 

Register for the webinar here.

Vital Documents for Individuals Facing Homelessness

November 25, 2024 | 1pm EST

Come learn about the process for fee waivers, IDs, and birth certificates for unhoused persons. Obtain information on the process for MI state ID/license, birth certificates, and an update on the status of being able to order a state ID replacement online when the fee is waived. Hear some tips for working with persons experiencing homelessness and navigating the process. Learn how to work with SOS and SSA to obtain vital docs and work with unhoused persons to assist in vital docs and the fee waiver process.

Register here.

2025 Innovations and Solutions for

Ending Unsheltered Homelessness Conference

February 26-28, 2025

The 2025 Innovations and Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness Conference will bring together service providers, system leaders, advocates, and people with lived experience of homelessness to learn from each other, discuss best practices, and share new innovations in the field—all with the central theme of bringing people home.

Registrants will have the opportunity to attend roundtable discussions, plenaries, and workshops focused on best practices and solutions for ending unsheltered homelessness. In addition to regular workshops, the conference will offer a variety of session formats to provide attendees exciting new ways to learn, engage, and foster connections. Together, participants will explore innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.

Register here.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

March 24-27, 2025

Save the date for NLIHC's 2025 Housing Policy Forum. For updates on the Forum, please visit NLIHC's website.

Free At-⁠home COVID-⁠19 Tests Available

Residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

Order your tests here.

Mental Health Resources

DWIHN Mobile Crisis Unit

Call 844-IN-CRISIS (844) 462 - 74741, 7am to 11pm, to get you or a loved one connected to a crisis specialist and get a mobile crisis unit to their location.

My Safe Space Crisis Hotline

For young adults (313) 844-9136. The MCHS hotline connects youth experiencing housing and mental health crises to short-term mental health services.

Last Newsletter's Riddle 🕵🏽‍♀️:

I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?

Answer:

🏦A BANK🏦

Connect with us!

Do you have questions about the newsletter? Want to submit an item?

Email Kimberly Benton at kimberly@handetroit.org

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