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"Affordable homes are built with ballots every bit as much as they are built with bricks and drywall." - Our Homes, Our Votes

October 28, 2024

If you live in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park and need a safe place to stay, please call CAM at (313) 305-0311.

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

October 1, the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC) opened the up their Public Housing Wait Lists. You can find applications on DHC's website.

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.

2024 Draft Governance Charter

Open for Public Comments

After making multiple changes to the draft Governance Charter of the Continuum of Care, the document is ready for public input. You can read the outline of proposed changes here. Submit you comments here. Please submit all public comments by Friday, November 8th by 5pm.

If you have any questions please contact, Chelsea Johnson, at chelsea@handetroit.org.

2024 PIT Count Report Now Available

Detroit CoC Board Meeting

November 4, 2024 | 2pm EST

Join us at the next Detroit CoC Board Meeting. Register here.

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.

2024 Board Calendar-at-a Glance

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

Susan G. Baker and Elizabeth Boyle

Innovation Fund 

The National Alliance to End Homelessness Alliance (NAEH) announced the establishment of the Susan G. Baker and Elizabeth Boyle Innovation Fund in honor of two of its co-founders and longest serving board members. This fund will support people with lived experience of homelessness in their pursuit of innovative professional and creative endeavors. The fund will provide financial assistance to individuals that meet the eligibility criteria in areas that include, but are not limited to, the following: Professional Endeavors, Creative Endeavors.

More details, application materials, and an informational webinar are available on NAEH’s website.

Housing Homestretch Campaign

Sign On & Webinar

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.

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 participat 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.

Adopt a Holiday

Wish List

MCHS: Family of Services has begun their annual Adopt a Wish List holiday initiative. Each year, countless individuals and organizations unite in the spirit of gratitude and generosity to fulfill the holiday wishes of children, youth, and families. Each holiday wish list represents a specific individual or family in our program that was made directly by them. Your support will bring smiles and cheer to many this holiday season.

Contact Eriann Scharer at escharer@mchsmi.org to adopt a list or lists.

Gifts are due to MCHS by Friday, December 6. Please call (313) 531-4060 or email escharer@mcsmi.org to schedule your drop-off!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Symposium

October 31, 2024 | 8am

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and NSO is hosting a symposium on equity and justice for domestic violence survivors in partnership with the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Please join them on Thursday, October 31st, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM for this powerful event. The event will be held at the Wayne County Community College District, in the Denise Wellons-Glover Welcome Center, located at 8200 Outer Dr. West, Detroit, MI, 48129.

Halloween in the D

The City of Detroit continues its tradition of Halloween in the D with a host of fun, family-friendly and, sometimes, spooky activities during the week surrounding Halloween - Oct. 26, Oct. 31 and Nov. 2. Most of the Halloween in the D events will take place Oct. 31. Additional Halloween-themed events include ScareFest on Oct. 26 at Palmer Park and Fall Fest on Nov. 2 at Farwell Recreation Center.

To find Trunk-or-Treat locations, go to the City of Detroit's website.

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.

Beyond Self-Care:

Creating Organizational Resilience Against Burnout

November 12, 2024 | 10am - 4pm

Location: MCEDSV 3893 Okemos Rd, Okemos

Price: $150 or $130 for MCAH Members (contact Allison Green at agreen@mihomeless.org for a coupon)

Lunch will be included

Course Outcomes: Participants will be able to uplift local examples of individual and organizational policies and practices to reduce burnout/vicarious trauma in staff.

Join us for a full day of training addressing vicarious trauma and burnout, looking at barriers to community care, and working together to create strategic solutions so we all can thrive. This training will move beyond individual ideas for self-care and move into discussions on creating a culture of care for employees, from supporting each other to policies and procedures that allow for flexibility, wellness, and work-life balance.

Additionally, participants will be able to dig deeper into the effect of economic justice on retention, identify and address horizontal hostility, and leave with tools to incorporate the best practices that are learned better. Participants will leave with concrete policy ideas and examples they can implement within their workplaces.

Please come with your agency policies and procedure manuals!

Participants will leave with concrete policy ideas and examples they can implement within their workplaces.

Register 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.

From Surviving to Thriving:

The Importance of Engaging People with Lived Experience

November 8, 2024 | 12pm EST

Real World Perspectives on Poverty Solutions introduces key issues regarding the causes and consequences of poverty through an in-person lecture series featuring experts in policy and practice from across the nation. Speaker Barbie Izquierdo is Feeding America's Director of Advocacy and Neighbors Engagement. Izquierdo helps lead the organization’s efforts to elevate the voices of people with lived experience of food insecurity and partner with them to catalyze a movement to increase equitable access to nutritious food. She oversees programs to engage neighbors facing hunger in anti-hunger advocacy and help them build and use their power to create change in their communities.

No registration required. View the livestream on Youtube.

(If you have a Youtube account, you can get notifications for upcoming events).

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 24-25, 2024

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

Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC)

2025 Call for Proposals

The 2025 Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC) will be held on May 14 and 15 in Lansing, Michigan. With the theme Partners in Progress, they seek to bring exciting opportunities and meaningful experiences for attendees – which, in 2024, was approximately 1,200 housing financiers and developers, elected and public officials, asset managers, policy makers, and other industry stakeholders.

For more details, visit BMCC'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.

Voting Section

Voting while experiencing homelessness can sometimes be challenging, but people without a permanent address still retain the right to vote. We've put together some handy graphics to help you understand voting while experiencing homelessness.

Download full graphic set

Note: Any opinions expressed in these articles are intended for educational purposes only and do not represent the views or positions of HAND.

2024 Election Issue Guides: Poverty On The Ballot

Poverty should be part of every candidate’s platform this election year. The 2024 election is an important opportunity to consider how our society addresses poverty and related issues, from the national to the local level.

Poverty Solution's goal is to provide Michigan voters with reliable information on poverty issues, so they can better engage with policymakers, candidates, and each other to advance the prevention and alleviation of poverty.

View the guides on Poverty Solutions's website.

Housing Groups Weigh in on Harris’s and Trump’s Housing Plans

How well do the presidential candidates’ proposals address the growing housing crisis? Housing advocacy groups share their thoughts and criticisms of the plans (or lack thereof).

Once dismissed as a “third-rail political issue,” housing is finally being prioritized as a platform issue in the 2024 presidential election. That is in no small part because the housing crisis, decades in the making, has reached a boiling point.

Today the U.S. has a housing shortfall of an estimated 4 million to 7 million homes. A record-high number of renter households—about 22 million—spend more of than 30 percent of their income on housing, leaving less money available for things like groceries, health care, and childcare (costs that have also dramatically risen over the years). In fact, young voters have been hit so hard by inflation and other economic challenges that many are being forced to abandon the dream of homeownership altogether.

Read the full Shelterforce article on their website.

For this Fun Corner, we have a riddle! Can you solve it? 🕵🏽‍♀️

Riddle:

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

The answer will be shared in the next CoC Newsletter.

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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