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"Courage is not the absence of fear – it is inspiring others to move beyond it." - Nelson Mandela

December 9, 2024

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.

For regular updates, subscribe to the CAM newsletter.

Temporary Closure of HCV Waitlists

HAND received notification from MSHDA that, effective July 1, 2024, all Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waitlists have been temporarily closed. 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 more information, please go to MSHDA's website.

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

RFP: Coordinated Entry (CE) System Evaluation

Deadline Extended: December 18, 2024

CAM conducts assessments for and makes referrals to over 60 emergency shelters, transitional housing, rapid-rehousing, prevention, and permanent supportive housing programs in our community. In 2023 after a transition from the previous Lead Agency the Detroit CoC designated HAND as the CAM lead agency. Through a community driven transition process, HAND moved the system to a new network of implementing partners.

Given the critical role CAM plays in our community, we seek an experienced consultant/contractor to lead a comprehensive assessment of CAM after its first-year post transition. This assessment would evaluate the following:

• Our system’s compliance with HUD Coordinated Entry Standards and our CoC’s policies and procedures
• Effectiveness of service delivery and capacity to achieve our community’s goals
• Interagency communication and accountability
• System emphasis on equity and accessibility

Interested parties are invited to submit a proposed scope of work and budget to HAND no later than December 18, 2024, at 12:00pm. All proposals should be submitted via email to Zach Betthauser at zbetthauser@handetroit.org.

Request for Letters of Intent:

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF)

Deadline: January 10, 2025

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Housing and Homeless Services is soliciting letters of intent to apply for funding through the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF). Interested eligible applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent to apply for funding. The information in the attached document contains guidance regarding the funding opportunity, deadlines, requesting clarifying information, the required contents of the letter of intent, and how to submit. MDHHS anticipates awarding a total of $20,000,000 to eligible applicants, and these grants will have a term of either one or two years, beginning on March 17, 2025 (date subject to change).

MDHHS held a webinar December 4, 2024 and will be releasing the FAQ December 13.

Completed letters of intent must be submitted to Rebecca Tallarigo, Program Specialist, at MDHHSHomeless@michigan.gov. Letters must be received by 11:59 PM January 10, 2025

Download full request along with eligibility materials here.



2024 Board Calendar-at-a Glance

The Board Calendar is a tentative timeline for various projects that are being worked on by the CoC in 2024. The 2025 calendar will be coming soon.

Sign Up for the Annual DV/HT Training!

This year we will have two different webinars available for all CoC agencies to attend! If you are a staff member involved in housing programs, these trainings are mandatory for your compliance with the Violence Against Women Act. If you are unable to attend or have any questions, please email torrey@handetroit.org.

Download the training pdf here.

Our Places of Impact: Navigating Transitions

December 11, 2024 | 1pm EST

This peer-led Community of Practice (CoP) session aims to provide a virtual space for participants to exchange knowledge and best practices with community development practitioners around the theme of collective impact for community-led initiatives. This is the final session in a four-part series of Peer Exchange events in the Our Places of Impact CoP, which focuses on the challenges of navigating transitions and preparing for change for community development professionals.

Register here.

Mastering Motivational Interviewing: From Basics to Advanced Skills

December 13th, 2024 | 9 am - 3:30 pm

VerKuilen Building, 21885 Dunham Road, Clinton Township, MI 48036

Join Tiffany Turner, LMSW, for an engaging and informative workshop designed to enhance your Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills. This session will guide you through the foundational principles of MI and progressively build towards advanced techniques that can be applied in more complex client interactions. Whether you are new to MI or looking to refine your skills, this workshop will equip you with the tools to better support your clients' goals and improve patient outcomes.

Course Outcomes

Hear about ways to work with SOS and SSA to obtain vital docs, learn about working with unhoused persons to assist in vital docs, hear about the fee waiver process.

Register here.

The Criminalization of Homelessness

January 13, 2025 | 1pm EST

Course Outcomes:

• Understand the criminalization of homelessness
• Update on National, state, and local activity
• Connect social work values, policies, and ethics
• Review solutions and alternatives to criminalization
• Receive MCAH's criminalization of homelessness toolkit

Register here.

From Pro Publica: Swept Away

As homelessness has surged to record levels in the U.S., cities are increasingly removing or “sweeping” tents or entire encampments of people living outdoors.

Cities say they carry out these clearings humanely with the goal of getting people off the street. But they often result in people's belongings being thrown away. ProPublica found — through reviewing records from 16 cities, reporting in 11 cities and speaking with people across the country — that these actions create a cycle of hardship.

Read the full article here.

"I wanted to see the bigger picture of what it takes to have housing as a whole for the city of Detroit, particularly for people that are of low income" — Eleanor Bradford, Systems Coordinator, HAND

Cross-sector partnership aims to resolve "most prevalent and pressing issues" for Detroit housing - Read the full article on Model D Media's website.

There are many ways you can help shape our collective housing futures for the better. A few examples are below:

Urge Congress to Invest in Affordable Homes in FY 2025

To address the growing crisis of affordable housing and homelessness, federal investment in affordable housing, homelessness, and community development is crucial. By supporting these programs, we can ensure more robust solutions for communities across the country. Join the effort by signing on to this petition to encourage Congress to fund these critical initiatives and help drive meaningful change for those in need.

Housing Homestretch Campaign

Support Renters' Rights in Lame Duck!

Demand action on critical renters' rights bills before the legislative year ends! We need all hands on deck to push these bills across the finish line during "Lame Duck" in Michigan!

• You can use the form here to send to your local legislators.
• Download a summary of the legislation.
• NEW: Fill out MCAH's 2025 Policy Priorities Survey here

The Second Look Sentencing Act 

Incarcerated people in Michigan serve, on average, the longest sentences in the nation, and these long prison sentences aren’t keeping Michigan safe. Second Look Legislation would provide incarcerated persons the opportunity of a second chance after having already served a long prison sentence of 10 years or more.

You can help show support for the The Second Look Sentencing Act by signing the petition here.

Detroit Fair Housing Survey!

The City of Detroit is surveying residents to understand how to:

• Make sure every resident has equal access to quality, affordable housing in Detroit, regardless of their identity or background.
• Ensure residents do not face discrimination when finding housing.

To fill out the survey, please visit this site. For questions, call 313-224-6380

Join the Detroit Housing Alliance Task Force

Calling all health and housing professionals! Please consider joining the Housing Task Force. The Task Force’s goal is to identify and address specific housing needs and barriers for clients. They would like to start with an in-person kick off meeting in either December or January to discuss future meetings and agenda. Stay tuned for an upcoming date.

Sign up here.

Updates on the Final Days of the 118th Congress

December 10, 2024 | 1pm EST

With government funding set to expire December 20th and a massive to-do list, what will Congress accomplish before the clock runs out? How will their actions - or inaction - impact child and youth homeless programs? This session will provide breaking updates on current federal policy issues related to child, youth, and family homelessness. We also will share forecasts on K12 education, higher education, housing, homelessness, and early childhood policy. Attendees will learn strategies for educating and communicating with policymakers. 

Register for the webinar here.

Election 2024: What Does it Mean for Homelessness in California and Beyond?

December 17, 2024 | 3pm EST

Join the UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative for a webinar to explore the implications of the 2024 election for homelessness on the West Coast and beyond. The discussion will include a moderated conversation examining the policy impacts, the challenge of evidence-based service delivery in a potentially austere and charged political environment, and strategies for advancing effective solutions.

Register here.

Privacy: Why Informed Consent Matters When

It Comes to Data Sharing

December 16, 2024 | 1pm EST

Informed consent is an important element of a strong privacy model for homeless services. It helps us build the trust of those we serve, while using data we collect to understand better what is happening in the world of homeless services. This session will walk through what informed consent is and how to make it a core part of what you do as an agency.  

At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Define what informed consent means.
2. Identify why informed consent is important for building trust with those we work with.
3. Discuss ways to engage in data sharing with the support of those seeing services

Register for the webinar here.

Pre-recorded Webinar:

Intro to Supportive Housing and Community Building

This webinar from CSH's Washington Academy explored the role of Supportive Housing in addressing barriers to stable housing for individuals facing homelessness, involvement with the justice system, or living with disabilities. Speakers emphasized how these programs offer safe, affordable housing combined with flexible, voluntary services designed to support tenants' employment, health, recovery, and connection to community. They discussed various housing models, including single-site and scattered-site options, and highlighted key principles such as tenant choice, fair leases, and eviction prevention. The discussion also identified significant challenges, including the need for low-barrier application processes, improved staff training, and fostering trust with tenants. Ultimately, the webinar stressed the importance of creating inclusive and accessible housing environments that enable individuals to succeed and thrive.

Watch the full webinar here.

Related

Supportive Housing 101 - Onboarding Curriculum. The training is free and on-demand. You can access it training here.

NHSDC Spring Conference 2025

Apr 28 - 30, 2025

The NHSDC Spring Conference brings leaders, data experts, community partners, and HUD experts & Technical Assistance providers (TA’s) from across the nation to explore key topics that impact human services. With over 40 sessions to attend the conference provides actionable insights, best practices, and innovative methods to improve outcomes in housing and human services.

Learn more about the conference here.

CSH Supportive Housing Summit 2025

Meeting the Moment: Navigating Challenges, Creating Opportunities

April 23 - April 25, 2025

Supportive housing is an effective intervention, yet the field continues to experience challenges in scaling, preserving, and operating quality supportive housing. CSH's 2025 conference will facilitate sessions that tackle these challenges with innovative, practical, and effective solutions, demonstrating supportive housing is a viable and sustainable alternative to institutionalization and housing instability.

Find out more and register this website.

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.

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.

Corktown Health

Financial Assistance

The Housing and EFA programs provide emergency financial assistance to households experiencing utility shutoff (past due bills), eviction, need for assistance with first month’s rent for a new move.

This type of assistance is designed to help clients living with HIV stay engaged or to reengage in medical care. When an applicant does not meet the criteria of our programs, we work with our network to connect the client to additional resources.

Must apply for "MDHHS SER" on MIBridges first.

Find out more about the program on Corktown Health'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.

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.

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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