Shelter Association of Washtenaw County

I’ve been volunteering with SAWC for the past two years, and you can feel the passion of the people who work here. They consistently go above and beyond to bring resources, knowledge, and help to our clients, and they help make the environment feel like a community. Staff are deeply understanding of clients’ individual lived experiences and act with empathy, altruism, and understanding through every interaction and advocacy initiative. This is truly a non profit that makes a difference.

I have only been volunteering with SAWC since April, but I have and will continue to go every weekend. All of the core and support staff, as well as volunteers truly donate their time and effort for the right reasons. I am continuously inspired by patience and hard work I see. We are all one community and leave judgement and preconceived notions at the door. I have not only given back to the Washtenaw County community that has supported me through so much, but I have been able to learn a lot about myself.

I have been volunteering with SAWC and specifically at the Delonis Center over the last few years in several areas of direct service. As someone who spent 25years in community mental health in Florida and during that time worked very closely with the shelters there, I have been fortunate to work with some very altruistic giving people. But as a whole none are better than the people working on the floor and providing direct services to the neediest of people in our community as those at SAWC. Their desire to improve people's lives along with the patience and. dedication goes beyond admirable.

I volunteer at the Delonis Center and am impressed with the dedication and hard work of the staff under not always easy working conditions.

I have been seeing the Shelter at the Farmer's Market lately. And I truly enjoy getting to see them in action, raising awareness and helping folks. Sign up for their newsletter if you haven't already! It's always awesome to see people wanting to help others. Volunteer here to do some good!

SAWC continues to offer life changing transformations for staff and clients. A great place to work if you are in it for the challenges of growth!

As a Major Gifts Officer at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, I am continually inspired by the transformative impact we have on our community. Our mission to end homelessness one person at a time far exceeds expectations, thanks to our dedicated staff, volunteers, and generous donors. We provide comprehensive services that address immediate needs while also offering long-term solutions, such as housing assistance, employment support, and mental health services. Every day, I see firsthand how our efforts restore hope and dignity to those we serve. It's an honor to be part of such a compassionate and effective organization, and I am proud to support our ongoing work to create lasting change in Washtenaw County.

The Shelter of Washtenaw County is a beacon of hope in our community, providing invaluable support and resources to those experiencing homelessness. As a board member, I am proud to be associated with an organization that is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of our neighbors here in Washtenaw county. I wholeheartedly encourage others to support and engage with the SAWC as its work is truly transforming lives and making our community a better place for all.

I am a former board member of the Shelter Association and am so proud of the work they do. They work closely with the clients in the area and help to coordinate services and benefits with other agencies. What a fantastic organization and a fantastic mission

Incredibly dedicated staff committed to serving those most in need in our community.

The Shelter association of Washtenaw County, is an oasis of help in the desert of homelessness. This place provides so much service and help with compassion.

To experience the Shelter Association is to experience a heart of care. It is evident every day the hard work that is executed to address the needs of the unhoused community. SAWC has held a pioneer position for 40 years to meet the landscape of the community wherever it needs. From on-the-ground to leadership, the Shelter Association's mission is focused where it makes the most difference.

Volunteering here took a bit more effort than it maybe should. But overall the experience was a worthwhile one. Sitting and talking to clients, sharing stories. And getting to do it alongside other people that care was a bonus. Please support the shelter as best you can, there are so many ways to do that. Time, money, wishlist items. They Rock!

I have volunteered 60+ hours at the Delonis Center and honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience. The staff are great and always ready to step in and work alongside volunteers to ensure their safety and comfort. The clients all have amazing relationships with the staff, and constantly thank them for the work that they do. This is an amazing volunteering opportunity and I highly recommend all to try it!

I have been working with the Robert J. Delonis Center for about two years now, and I have been truly blessed by the experience. The staff of the Delonis Center inspires me every day; their dedication toward the underserved communities of Washtenaw County is truly remarkable. I have seen people's lives completely transformed by the supports that the Delonis center offers its clientele. Not only do they make sure that the clients have housing security, but they go above and beyond by offering support throughout every corner of life: from medical supports to emotional support. I am truly in awe of the work that is done at Delonis, and I will support them in all of their endeavors.

I am not somebody who has a lot of expendable income; however, I choose to support organizations like the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County because they truly make a difference in people's lives. Our society is too willing to ignore and cast aside marginalized and houseless people. We need the Shelter Association to help with the tremendous amount of work required to alleviate some of the burden plaguing these human beings most in need.

Shelter Association of Washtenaw County has a long and consistent history of capably serving its mission to end homelessness one person at a time. This extraordinary institution maintains a highly dedicated, skilled staff, is well networked with other essential medical, behavioral and social services and is sustained by a strong philanthropic and grant funding base.

SAWC continues to provide dedication and attention to the needs of those at life's crossroads. Compassionate, practical, sensitive, comforting, uplifting, and focused are a few words describing this vital community service.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County truly operates by it's tag line of "Ending Homelessness One Person at Time". They are a great asset to the County and the people who live here.

As a newly elected member of the board, I have been extremely impressed with the scope of services provided, the fiduciary accountability, and level of dedication from leaders and staff. This is an organization that is affecting real change in people's immediate lives and their future trajectory. It is an honor to be part of this team.

I have had the distinct pleasure to be a part of this community and board for almost 10 years. I am consistently impressed with the leadership team and constant desire for improvement.

The Shelter Association is the preeminent homeless services provider in Washtenaw County. They work with all individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the County working to move them from hopeless to hopeful, homeless to housed.

Over 2 years ago I was a client here at the shelter when the Pandemic first hit. I felt that the shelter made all of the appropriate steps to keep each and every one of us safe from COVID. Then when I got housing in November 2020, I have been able to maintain my housing. Roughly a year and a half later I ended up volunteering because, I do believe that everyone deserves housing and that I can give back to the non-profit that helped me so much in my time of need. After volunteering after 3 months several employees that were here when I started my homelessness journey suggested that I take my efforts of giving back as an employee. I have now been an employee here at the shelter for just over 6 months and I truly feel like I'm giving back to this community. This is truly a place of second chances.

I have had the privilege of working as a volunteer at the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor for about
four years. I am very impressed with the organization based on a number of observations. First of all, the staff, really cares about the people they are there to serve. They are very organized and try to monitor and address a variety of behaviors and needs. Delonis strives to be a clean and hospitable and nurturing home for many at risk people. They foster a philosophy of recovery and independence and in my time there, I have known several people who have become housed and hold jobs.

After volunteering with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, I can wholeheartedly say that the organization does a great deal to support our community!

Enjoy working at the Shelter Association and being able to make a difference everyday. The team is ever adapting and compassionate.

I love working for this community and this Shelter helps everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. Being a non-profit is hard sometimes, this Shelter persists.

We have support the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County in recent years by making care packages for those in need and donating them there to provide to those in need. Especially during the winter months. We consider them one of our community partners.

I volunteered for shelter overnight shifts in the last years, by several locations (churches within A2 area). I noticed a very efficient organization and very motivated people jointly with a very high level spirit of cooperation provided by the guests!

As a former resident of the Shelter, I can say they do a wonderful job there! The majority of the staff care about people and want the best for them. They are able to manage all of the entrenched problems that accompany homelessness in our community. Thank you Shelter Staff!!!

I saw first hand the work of the Shelter Association as a volunteer at their winter Rotating Shelter at an area church. Shelter Association partners with faith based organizations and their volunteers to provide critical shelter and services to people in need during the cold winter months here in Ann Arbor.
This is an excellent model of a community coming together to serve one of its most vulnerable populations. Keep up the excellent work!

Each fall our churches, Northside Presbyterian and St. Aidan's Epoiscopal, host what's known as the overflow shelter. This would not be possible without the assistance of attentive and dedicated staff from the Delonis Center. They have organized our guest list, helped us with check-ins and advice and made the week go as smoothly as possible for at least ten years. They continue to provide us with information about the unhoused in Washtenaw County and ways to assist throughout the year, from fundraising for bus tokens to advocating for affordable housing with our local government agencies.

As part of a Washtenaw County volunteer group that seeks ways to get people into their own living spaces, I appreciate Shelter Association of Washtenaw County’s House More Serve More program. The program works hard to give its clients the guidance and the wherewithal to stay housed so that they can effectively keep on taking steps to improve their lives.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC) has worked to provide support to hundreds of individuals facing homelessness and housing insecurity. Their staff worked quickly to de-populate the emergency shelter and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, limiting the amount of community spread in our community.

As someone who works with the unhoused, and as a formerly homeless individual myself, the services offered at the Delonis shelter are critical to addressing the need for housing for the most vulnerable in our community. Through the residential and non-residential services offered, individuals can receive help with temporary shelter, connection to health services, access to regular hygiene and laundry facilities, long term property storage and many other programs to help with challenges of living without a permanent residence. Staff at SAWC work diligently to support housing plans for each individual and provide resources to help folks build skills needed to sustain future housing situations.
Recently, SAWC has begun to re-engage and reintroduce services that have been unavailable during the pandemic. These include programs for employment, education, and assistance connecting with other community resources. While much of the world shut down, the work at SAWC never stopped and people have continued to move from homelessness to housing, despite the additional challenges brought about by the virus.
Supporting this non-profit is truly about supporting your neighbors. SAWC continues to build community by housing one person at a time. Working with them toward this mission helps me feel a lot more...human.

The SAWC is a great place to learn and grow whether your here because your homeless or just trying to give back and help those who are homeless.

SAWC is able to help with housing, overcome barriers, help coordinate healthcare, and many other things that present issues for our most vulnerable.

SAWC also offers many basic needs to clients like Showers, laundry, onsite clinic, storage, and temporary housing.

The SAWC goes above and beyond! They truly care about each and every person who walks through their doors. They continue to be a driving force in ending homelessness here in Washtenaw County.

Hard working staff that always go the extra mile to help staff.

These people are a Godsend to so many people who have found themselves homeless for whatever reason. Keep up the good work!

The Shelter Association is great at finding new ways to better serve the homeless. SAWC transforms people's lives and everyone who works at SAWC is passionate about helping people in need.

This Shelter continues to serve more than 150 individuals each day, in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Other business and places of refuge have shut their doors, but the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County continues to work tirelessly to provide shelter to individuals with nowhere to go. They also provide services that include showers, laundry, and case management services, as they work to assist clients with finding permanent affordable housing.

I see first hand every effort that is made to house the communities most vulnerable population. It is a tall order but the Shelter is up for the challenge!

SAWC has impacted hundreds of people from around the country. Their warming center touches home to see how hard the staff work and how much the facility pays forward to the community. They work hard to make sure no one is left in the cold or to connect people to the correct services.

The impact it has on the Community at large is huge but it's the individual lives it touches that impacts me. To see someone come through a rough patch and get back on track makes you proud to be associated with this Organization

SAWC is a great asset to this community. In addition to ending homelessness, the staff at SAWC are skilled passionate empathetic and knowledgeable about resources in the community. They assist guests with addressing and removing social, legal and financial barriers to health and housing. During the winter months, SAWC opens a warming center to allow all individuals in need to sleep inside at night. SAWC is a leader in meeting clients where they are as well as answering the calls for help.

The Delonis Center is one of the best resources for individuals who are experience homelessness in Washtenaw County.

Great place to be the staff are so great always so helpful

SAWC helped house 265 individuals in their last fiscal year.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County does an incredibly good job of making everyone feel welcome. They provide in the best way they can year-round for their clients. It's been a pleasure working with them!

Delonis has helped so many people to end there homelessness! Such an amazing organization that is always there to help the clients.

The Shelter Association does amazing work with housing individuals who have many barriers to housing. They work through many challenging situations to get people into housing and are determined to ensure that these folks are as successful as possible. The staff are welcoming and respectful to everyone who walk through the doors. it is an wonderful place with kind employees who very much care about those they serve.

I love being part of such a wonderful mission and using my skills to create a better world!

The shelter is the front door to services in Washtenaw county and as such helps people meeting them where they are and delivers the much-needed help in the here and now.
If you ever need the help of any kind from shelter to the initiation of mental health care stop in to find the resources delivered with the respect they can provide. Absolutely the best in the county at providing acute care with passion and professionalism.

Not only does the SAWC house people daily, they also offer a great many benefits to its' employees. I was recently very ill and off work for about 6 months, but because of the long term disability offered by my employer, I didn't have to become a client. The medical insurance saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses for the many surgeries I have had to have, as well.

The Delonis Center takes in hundreds of people into Warming Center during the winter months regardless of the individuals current situation. People are able to stay out of the freezing cold and survive the winter. They have Case Managers that are there to help you find housing if you want to.

I have been working for SAWC for 4 wonderful years. It has been very rewarding working with people experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw county. I have witnessed many success stories along the way. I feel like I am contributing to a greater cause and I am very lucky to belong to such a caring organization.

The Delonis Center does an amazing job helping those who are less fortunate. The entire staff is very caring, compassionate and professional. Clients come to the Delonis Center with many different barriers, but when they leave, many of their challenges to finding stable housing have been eliminated. Clients know that when they have no other choices in their lives, the Delonis Center staff will be there to support them through the most difficult times in their lives.

I first came to the Shelter on a volunteer basis. As a volunteer I received the opportunity to observe shelter operations, do laundry, and engage with shelter clients.

The Shelter meets the basic needs of hundreds of individuals on a daily basis. Many of these needs are things that I was guilty of taking for granted, before coming to the Shelter.

A shower, the opportunity to do laundry, access to a telephone, food, and storage for personal belongings are just a few things that become available to individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

The shelter also provides a clean bed in a safe environment, all year round, to 50 Residential clients. When temperatures drop, the shelter is able to provide a bed for an additional 60+ individuals through it's warming center and an additional 25 beds through it's rotating shelter. Each night, through the winter months, 135+ individuals receive shelter from the cold and a place to sleep. If it were not for the shelter, these individuals would have no place to go.

The Shelter does more than provide a temporary solution to a problem. Shelter staff are compassionate and empathetic as they work with individuals on a case by case basis to assist them in finding income and affordable housing, so as to end their experience of homelessness as quickly as possible.

Engaging with clients provided me with the opportunity to understand the circumstances that may lead to an individual's homeless circumstance. The majority of the individuals that I encountered have disabilities that put them at a disadvantage as they seek to obtain or struggle to maintain employment. Many individuals have experienced trauma or tragedy that led to their becoming homeless. Most of the clients at the Shelter are optimistic about their future and work hard to do their part to end their experience of homelessness. The Shelter provides individuals with the help that they need to get back on their feet.

Shelter Association is a wonderful asset to Washtenaw County. The services they offer are absolutely phenomenal and are personalized for each individuals situation. Staff is accommodating and a pleasure to work with. Love volunteering here and will continue to do so!

delonis center helped me change my life around great people great agency

The shelter has helped me hone my social work skills and has helped so many clients not only find housing but leave equipped with the skills necessary to keep housing.

I have volunteered at this shelter and I was very impressed by the kindness and dedication of the case workers and the kitchen staff. They made me, a volunteer, feel welcome and valued.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (Delonis Center) has proven to be a God send for the local community. This agency has an intricate and very personalized program dedicated to helping the homeless population achieve independence, "one person at a time." The work done there through directors, managers, case managers, operations specialists, as well as other staff and the many volunteers is truly above par. Their internal team shows a dedication and compassion for the people they serve that is reflected through the success of their clients. Five stars and two thumbs up!

I have been a small part of changing many, many lives while employed at the SAWC, including my own. The people who come to us are at their very bottom of everything...no home, no income, no hope. When they leave here to enter sustainable housing, they have all those things returned to them and then some. I began working here as a part time employee, just having left a 25 year marriage and my own home. I was full of fear, but today, because of working here, I am a fully independent homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. I have paid vacation and sick days, full medical insurance benefits, a retirement account, and a living wage. I am no longer afraid. I feel what our clients feel...the good and the bad! We do amazing things here. You give, we serve, lives change!
Anonymous

Offer a wide range of services to aid vulnerable individuals.

This is one of the most amazing organization in Ann Arbor working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

The focus is on helping people to solve the problems that are keeping them from finding a place and learning how to keep that home.

An talented staff, great volunteers and committed board...makes for a very effective organization.

This shelter has been wonderful to volunteer at! Staff is extremely friendly and helpful to the clients. Things tend to be extremely clean around here as well.

In seven years I have seen many clients benefit from the services and informed staff at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County! The successes have varied greatly. Many clients have been housed or received assistance with sustaining housing. As a member of the community, I have witnessed how lives have changed after an individual ends their homelessness. Former clients have obtained skills/certifications that have proved to be life changing! Clients have been able to obtain/sustain housing after case managers helped them to become sober. Ive witnessed clients reunited with estranged family. Former shelter clients seldom forget their experience and often return to volunteer or support those still in need. Shelter staff meets clients where they are and link them to supportive services when they've succeeded. Great place to help!

The Delonis Center is extremely well set up with a program that truly focuses on housing clients and breaking down barriers that contribute to their homelessness!

The staff here really offers warmth to the residents, although at times the rules can be excessive. I feel welcome, safe and cared for and for this I am grateful.

As a supporter of the Shelter I am continually inspired by the ways they continue to serve the community and house more and more people in need every year.

How hard they work and how much they care about the clients really encourages me to work hard so that one day I can positively impact the lives of others the same way they do. I am getting ready to leave the area but as I do i will always treasure the time that I have spent there and hope to find an organization as wonderful as this one.

The Shelter Association is a wonderful asset to the community. They impact people's lives in a positive way by ending homelessness.

nice place, when I work there it feels more like a social visit, everyone knows each other and supports each other, nice community. This shelter offers so many services that are very valuable, one in particular that isn't officially listed is a patient ear and shoulder to cry on-the staff are so caring, and will spend time talking/listening to a resident who's having a bad day, the staff are genuinely invested in clients success and well being.

I have been volunteering at the Shelter Association for a couple of months now and every single day I am amazed with the patience and knowledge of the staff. They are always working in order to give the people who need their help the best possible care and chances to succeed possible. The services they offer require a great deal of time and commitment and I have never once seen those services offered without a smile.

The staff of the Shelter Association pursues the goal of "ending homelessness one person at a time" with vision, patience and optimism. And, one person at a time, they change lives.

SAWC does so many amazing things for the members of the Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. They offer so many incredibly important services that many people need to get back on their feet. I love volunteering here. There are always great people, volunteers and clients alike.

I was asked to join the volunteer Board this year by a good friend and former business associate. I've only been involved for a few short months, but I've already been pleasantly surprised by the level of commitment by both the volunteers and the employees. I was surprised to discover that very few, if any, of the other counties in Southeast Michigan offer this kind of assistance to the homeless. I really like the fact that this organization is not a permanent solution for the people that we help, but rather a starting point for them to make it on their own, and to have a better life than they had when we first met them.

SAWC changes all of our lives AND our Community by compassionately assisting the most forgotten segment of our society; single, adult males and females who are experiencing homelessness and who, often, are experiencing a myriad of physical, medical and/or emotional issues. This is a difficult population to serve, but the dedicated staff does it with grace and genuine warmth....AND with an outstanding level of success! Hope truly does happen at The Delonis Center and I am proud to be a small part of it!!

The Shelter Association has a great mission. It's staff is doing a wonderful job to help the homeless. The board of Directors are dedicated to help their community.

The Shelter Association's approach to homelessness works. Clients show up with very little hope and no resources. With the help of Shelter staff, clients develop a better sense of themselves and their place in the world. They come to see that a home is achievable, and working with that vision, most leave the shelter and move to sustainable housing.

The Shelter Association utilizes a wonderful staff, strong leadership, and dedicated Board of Directors to end homelessness in the Washtenaw community for hundreds every year!

It is every communities responsibility to provide help for the homeless. The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County has provided this help and is an example of how many caring people coming together to support those in need can accomplish so much. The leadership, staff and community can all be proud of the work done at the Delonis Center.

This organization is remarkable, with a mission of "ending homelessness one person at a time" the staff provide services, employment assistance, substance abuse, housing for Vets, & case managers that teach life skills so once a client is housed they are successful. The staff are smart, thoughtful and passionate about the clients they serve.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County is dedicated to ending homelessness. They do it every day and house one person every 2 days.

They also work with other community service providers to impact public and community policy and procedures to improve the system of care. In this way they contribute to ending homelessness in our community.

The staff members are dedicated and work tirelessly to find solutions for the people they work with. If there is a solution, they will find it.

I worked with others to found the first shelter in Ann Arbor, called Arbor Haven. So I have been watching the problem of homelessness for many years. I am grateful for the efforts of so many people to create the Delonis Shelter and to keep it going. It has expanded its services to meet the growing need. The recent brutal winter was a crisis for homeless people, and Delonis is again stepping up its services in response. I am relieved to know that there will be a warm place for homeless people to sleep when winter comes again.
What is still needed is a warming center open during the day. This is not necessarily a mission for Delonis, which is doing so much already. Bill Martin used to furnish a space on Ashley Street, but that building no longer exists. Somewhere, somehow, our community must find a way to meet this need.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County is a national, regional and community leader in the art of collaboration within a community to provide services to the most vulnerable citizens. I am in awe of the work and passion of its staff, and the great way they are able to provide services in a safe, and respectful manner.

For 6 years I have worked with the Shelter Assoc. as a co-ordinator for one week of their Rotating SHelter program. This winter relief program, requires SHelter Assoc. staff to work with about 25 congregations to be able to provide overnight housing for 25 homeless men. The staff is marvelous. Easy to work with and very caring. This is a fabulous and unfortunatelly necessary service to our community. I"m proud to work with these committed people. They all deserve high praise. Miriam

I have been a volunteer at the Delonis Center for about 5 years now and have worked at the Service Center desk, the Medical Clinic, and the Front Desk, as well as serving on a Task Force to increase the number of churches to participate in our Rotating Shelter. I am currently taking on various tasks to help the Medical Case Managers and staff provide the best medical care possible for our clients. I absolutely love my time at the Center. I have always felt comfortable there, and staff has always taught me what I needed to know and I have been trusted to act as independently as possible, which makes the work there especially satisfying.
Working in a shelter is complicated business for case managers who have to weave a path through mental and physical health issues, addiction, abuse, and lots of bureaucratic red tape. As volunteers, we provide support to the staff and clients, whether it be completing a specific task or, more often than not, just being there to listen and care.
The clients at the shelter come from many backgrounds and experiences and needs. However, I have always found that people are just people...we all have the same basic needs...possibly the most important and simplest needs are to be RESPECTED and to be TREATED WITH DIGNITY. As volunteers, I feel that is OUR most important job.

I became involved at the Delonis Center through our church, First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor. For many years we have participated in the Rotating Shelter program that is run by the Shelter. I signed up to stay up one night in December at the church to chaperone and after that night I knew I had to volunteer at the shelter. I was hooked. The clients were polite, appreciative individuals who were great to talk with and share life stories and insights. After that night, I knew I wanted to serve this population in a more extensive manner and that is how I became involved at this shelter.

Shelter Association of Washtenaw County is a great place to work and the staff are great :). This program provides services for individual adults to improve their life and get back on their feet. I enjoy being an advocate for a vulnerable population and addressing crisis situations. Overall, my experience has been very rewarding.

As a Volunteer for the Shelter Association of Wastenaw County, I had the honor of working with Staff who showed great care and took a well rounded approach to assisting clients who came through the doors. Offering opportunities that our state has neglected after years of cutting financial aid, and psychological help to those suffering from disabilities and mental illnesses. Even those who have fallen on hard times due to the financial struggles we've faced here in Michigan.

The shelter is one of a kind. The program provides various opportunities for individual adults to get back on their feet by addressing various barriers. There is a free medical clinic, case management for residents and non-residents, job club for those seeking employment, free laundry, storage, and meals, and showers to name a few. The center also collaborates with other community outreach programs including the Veteran's Administration, Department of Human Services, Catholic Social Services, Community Support and Treatment Services, and with providers who offer legal consultation. Also, the warming center provides emergency shelter to hundreds of people a night November into April. Not only is the shelter a place for people to stay, it is a center to improve quality of life by overcoming barriers with the services provided.

SAWC is by far one of the best places that I have ever had the pleasure to work with. The staff at the shelter is incredible. It just feels like a big family working there. My placement was in the clinic, and it was amazing how the clients were cared for holistically. Their medical needs were met and exceeded, but the clinicians consistently take it a step further and help the patient focus on their life goals. They do not simply treat the clients, but aid the patient in changing their habits, addictions, diets, and much much more. Never have I ever volunteered with such an amazing group of individuals. I feel like I am truly making a difference by being here.

My volunteer opportunity at SAWC was inspired by the way the Shelter takes care of it clients and i am delighted to be associated with that great organisation. i will still volunteer my time anytime i come to Ann arbor again.

I entered the shelter first as a volunteer then later as an intern. The staff were very nice and guided me in both my positions with patience. They were also very patient with the clients served there. Clients' goals are the top priority of the SAWC. They are making real strides to end homelessness one person at a time!

The shelter association of Washtenaw County is one of the best non-profits I've volunteered at. The staff at the shelter are very helpful, warming, and they treat all their clients with the utmost respect. I truly believe everyone involved at the shelter are focused on working towards helping each and every one of their clients to find stabilized and affordable housing. It's a blessing to know that there are still organizations like SAWC around who are running effectively and working towards ending homelessness. I love volunteering at this place.

This was by far the best organized facility I have volunteered at. I also appreciated that I could volunteer as many hours as I wanted/ needed. Many facilities require a certain number of hours that is hard to fulfill as a student. I also found the orientation very helpful for not only this experience but others as well. Many places did not have any type of orientation and it was very confusing as to what my job as a volunteer was. I greatly appreciated the set boundaries and expectations.

The shelter association of Washtenaw County provides top-notch service to its clients. They take into account the personal struggles that each client is faced with, and handles them in a compassionate and confidential manner.

I have volunteered on multiple occasions, in various areas of the shelter, and have found the staff to be wonderfully committed to truly making a difference in these peoples lives. working with them as a volunteer has always been a positive experience and provides a shining example of their level of compassion and understanding.

I am also a member of a local church that works with the Delonis Center, and it's truly an honor and a pleasure to work with them.

The shelter association of Washtenaw County provides excellent service to those in need. compassionate and qualified staff work hard daily to help individuals combat the barriers to housing.
The shelter served nearly 1,500 people last year and permanantly housed 200 people.
In winter months, The shelter provides warming centers and rotating shelters to over 500 people.

I have been involved with many non-profits over the last 40 years. The Shelter Association is one of the best. It's an impressive organization, committed to the difficult task of ending homelessness - one person at a time. The staff is professional and committed to the mission and works extremely hard every day to achieve this goal. The Board and volunteers are all engaged and dedicated to supporting the staff as they work with the clients to find housing for them and support clients, as needed, to help them remain housed. It is challenging work.

What the Shelter does for folks is nothing short of amazing. From start to finish the process of ending homelessness is a great thing to be a part of. I am so happy to be a part of this community that helps those who need it when they are most vulnerable.

I have been aware of the Shelter Association and it's incredible impact on the community for a number of years. I am really encouraged by the quality of care the Shelter's staff provides and the amount each and every staff member puts in to help serve the adult homeless population in Washtenaw County. As an organization that offers a multitude of wide-ranging services to clients, I really feel proud of this organization and continue to enjoy volunteering in a number of ways.

I started volunteering at the Shelter Association to gain more hands-on experience in my field of interest (affordable housing & homelessness prevention) while looking for a full-time job. I had already heard fantastic things about the Delonis Center & I was further impressed with what I learned in my time as a volunteer. I now am a part-time employee at the Shelter & I love it.

I've been volunteering with the Shelter for 6 years, and have been involved professionally with the homeless and near-homeless of Washtenaw County for more than twice as long. I've seen first hand how the Shelter is an indispensable resource for its clients, efficiently and compassionately run by its staff, and respected in the community. I hear from many clients who say the Shelter has helped them turn around their lives, giving them the supports that allow them to become stable and housed. We are very fortunate indeed to have such an organization in our community.

The Shelter Association provides many services in its endeavor to "end homelessness, one person at a time." One of these is the Shelter Clinic, which I manage. The clinic provides Primary Care and sees homeless people who are both staying in the Shelter and those living outside. We also provide medical case management: these staff support people in obtaining permanent access to healthcare services, in addition to helping them take care of urgent needs.

I went to the Shelter looking for gloves and a blanket and they let me stay the night as part of the warming center. This was more than I expected.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County serves the most at-risk population of the homeless, and they do so in a community collaborative fashion, partenring with over 30 agencies to focus on identifying and resolving root causes of pervasive homelessness. Their mission of "ending homelessness one person at a time" is a calling for the staff and volunteers of the SAWC, and they have laudable success rates with limited resources. The SAWC is an important part of our community delivering a critical service.

I have been volunteering at St Andrews breakfast program for the last several years and have heard many great comments about the Shelter. Over the last several months I have had an opportunity to be involved in the Shelter first hand and I must say, what I have heard is not only true but the services and staff far exceeded my expectations.

I've been delighted to get to know this organization. It's certainly top notch for Washtenaw County. However, knowing opertions of this sort across the nation as I do, I must say that it is one of the best-run operations I've seen. Staff and board alike are passionate about the mission.

I started at the shelter with some preconceived notions of those experiencing homelessness. The more time I spend the more I learn that many of my earlier preconceived notions were myth based and not fact based. There are so many really great people that are finding themselves here simply because of lack of employment and affordable housing.

I came to the shelter as a volunteer and worked on the floor with clients. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I love seeing many clients get back on their feet and regain housing.