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“I didn’t just survive; I became an advocate”

– Ashley Brown, HAND Ambassador

July 29, 2025

(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.

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

For regular updates, subscribe to the CAM newsletter.

Board Meeting

August 4 | 2pm

Join us for our monthly Detroit CoC Board Meeting. These meetings are an opportunity for the community to receive systems-level updates, offer feedback on current initiatives and programs, and learn about the homeless service system. The next General Membership meeting will be September 16.

Register for the meeting here.

Detroit CoC Competition Update

The Detroit Continuum of Care (CoC) is preparing for the 2025 renewal competition following new guidance from HUD. Although 2025 was initially expected to be a non-competitive year, HUD announced on July 3rd that it will release a 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This means the CoC will participate in the full competition cycle, including submission of both individual project applications and the CoC application.

The CoC competition is a competitive national funding process. HUD evaluates each CoC based on performance metrics and the strength of its application. The higher the score, the greater the potential funding awarded to our community.

Watch the webinar on our YouTube channel.

More information is available on our website.

[Cancelled] General Membership Town Hall

July 29 | 10am

The July 29 Town Hall has been cancelled. Watch the July 15 Town Hall Meeting on our YouTube channel.

On Demand Detroit CoC Trainings

LMS users have access to a wide range of trainings. The latest trainings are listed below.

• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 101
• Understanding the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Housing Protections
• Human Trafficking 101
• Domestic Violence 101
• Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM) 101
• Continuum of Care (CoC) 101

The Continuum of Care (CoC) 101 educational video is also available on our YouTube channel here.

Harm Reduction

Paid In-Person Training

August 1 | 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to develop and implement an effective harm reduction plan, along with actionable tools and strategies they can use immediately in their work. 4 Continuing Education Credits (CEU) available.

Outcomes:

• Explain the core principles and public health significance of harm reduction.
• Identify a range of harm reduction strategies and how they apply in different service settings.
• Anticipate and navigate common barriers to implementing harm reduction practices.
• Design and apply a practical harm reduction plan tailored to the needs of their clients and communities.

This course is designed for case workers, program managers, therapists, peer support specialists, and frontline support staff working in housing, healthcare, behavioral health, or community-based settings.

Register here.

If you have any questions about this including the MCAH Member discount code and CEUs, please reach out to Allison Green at agreen@mihomeless.org

Leading with Lived Experience - United Way Southeastern Michigan.

Over the last year, the Ambassadors helped 141 people register to vote, served 192 people with a winter clothing drive and provided supplies to132 people impacted by the water main break in southwest Detroit.

“I became interested in joining the Ambassador Program because I’ve experienced homelessness firsthand with my family and that gave me a real understanding of the challenges people face— not just the lack of shelter, but the emotional, physical, and mental toll it takes,” said Rachel Minion, ambassador at HAND.

• Senate Appropriations Committee Releases and Approves FY26 THUD Spending Bill - NLIHC
• Like the House’s FY26 THUD spending proposal, the Senate’s proposal rejects the harmful funding cuts and policy proposals promoted in the Trump administration’s FY26 appropriations request, which would have overhauled and slashed funding for rental and homelessness assistance programs. Instead, the bill provides increased funding for some of NLIHC’s priority programs, including an additional $1.82 billion to renew existing Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) contracts, totaling $33.97 billion for contract renewals in FY26, and an increase of $479 million for the Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program, for a total of $4.53 billion. The bill also maintains $1.25 billion in funding for the HOME Investment Partnership program, which was zeroed out in the President’s proposal and the House’s draft FY26 THUD spending bill.



• By the Numbers: Republican Reconciliation Law Will Take Health Coverage Away From Millions of People and Raise Families’ Costs - CBPP
• Roughly 15 million people will lose health coverage and become uninsured by 2034 because of the Medicaid and ACA marketplace cuts in the reconciliation law, the law’s failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits for ACA marketplace coverage, and other harmful ACA marketplace rule changes, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

• How Detroit mayoral candidates say they’d ramp up affordable housing, tackle homelessness - Bridge Detroit
• Six mayoral candidates spoke about how they’d ramp up housing that’s affordable for Detroiters and tackle homelessness at a July 16 forum organized by local social service agencies.

• Trump orders crackdown on homeless encampments nationwide - Reuters

The National Homelessness Law Center said the order combined with budget cuts for housing and healthcare, will increase homelessness.

"Forced treatment is unethical, ineffective, and illegal… these actions will push more people into homelessness and divert resources away from those in need."

Other groups said the order risks criminalizing homelessness by pushing people off the streets without guaranteed housing, worsening the crisis.

Housing-Focused Street Outreach:

Promoting Health and Safety for All

July 30 | 3pm

A comprehensive Housing-Focused Street Outreach strategy must consider the health and safety of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, the broader community, and the dedicated staff who work with the most vulnerable populations. To achieve this, outreach teams must adopt practices that promote well-being, reduce harm, and foster safe environments for all. In this webinar, hear from communities that have successfully integrated health and safety practices into their Housing-Focused Street Outreach strategies. Communities will share lessons learned, practical approaches, and the impact of their efforts on both individuals and the wider community.

Register for the webinar here.

United for Impact: Reimagining

Access and Advocacy

Uniting Michigan’s advocates, systems leaders, and all multidisciplinary professionals to improve access, elevate advocacy, and re-imagine survivor-centered systems that work—together.

Register here

Know your voting rights

Project Based Voucher Program

Waiting Lists Open

The Project Based Voucher Program (PBV Program) is designed to provide low and moderate-income individuals and families with housing assistance in specific units contracted with Detroit Housing Commission (DHC). The housing assistance is provided to income-eligible applicants who are approved for tenancy at the contracted location. You apply to the PBV location waiting list of your choice. The Project Based Assistance is only available to those selected and approved from the program site waiting list.

Visit the Detroit Housing Commission's website to apply.

Health Resources

Download

DWIHN 24-Hour Helpline

1-800-241-4949

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) offers 24-hour phone service for those seeking mental health support.

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.

Corktown Health

Financial Assistance

The Housing and EFA programs provide emergency financial assistance to households experiencing utility shutoff, eviction, and first month’s rent for a new move. This assistance is designed to help clients living with HIV stay engaged or reengage in medical care.

Find out more about the program on Corktown Health's website.

Harm Reduction Wellness Stations

These Harm Reduction Wellness Stations provide free supplies to help prevent disease, reduce overdose risks, and make substance use safer. This initiative helps protect the health of Detroiters by giving residents the tools they need to stay safe.

Find more information about the stations the Detroit Department of Health's website.

Rides to Care

This new Detroit Department of Health program provides transportation for prenatal and postpartum care up to the baby's first birthday. To schedule a ride, call (313) 876-0000

For more info, visit DHD's website.

Here is this week's riddle

I protect, I stand tall

my purpose is to strike fear in all.

What am I?

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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