Shelter Association of Washtenaw County

Results: Last year we served over 1200 unique individuals, adjustments to programming in the previous year allowed us to serve nearly 100 more individuals in the Residential Program.

Target demographics: Adult men and women experiencing homelessness.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Predominantly adult men and women who are Washtenaw County residents at the time they experience homelessness. Last year over 1200 individuals received some type of service from the Shelter Association.

Geographic areas served: Washtenaw County

Programs: Residential Program: The Residential Program offers individuals who are experiencing homelessness the opportunity to have temporary shelter and intensive case management to assist them in finding sustainable income and affordable housing. At the beginning of their stay, a case manager is assigned who leads them through a comprehensive, empathetic assessment to identify their specific barriers to obtaining housing. Together a plan is created to address these barriers. Upon entering the Residential Program, one must commit to work on finding and saving income, and obtaining sustainable housing, while remaining clean and sober for the duration of the stay. Non-Residential Program: For individuals experiencing homelessness who are not currently in the Residential Program, the Shelter Association provides an array of services to both provide immediate assistance and encourage long-term change. Services such as laundry, showers, and access to the Shelter's free health services may be utilized by anyone in need. There are also a variety of assistance programs available such as: employment assistance, benefit assistance, housing search assistance and many others which help find or increase income and locate sustainable housing. Currently more than 30 agencies, ranging from AA to the VA, provide services on-site. These services help individuals who are not yet ready to enter the Residential Program, who are waiting for a place in the Residential Program or who have temporary shelter elsewhere but need to access our services. Warming Programs: December through March, or any time the temperature (or wind chill) falls below 35 degrees, the Shelter Association opens the first floor Warming Center overnight to provide life-saving warmth to people in the community who are in need. During the depths of winter (December through March) the Shelter Association expands the capacity of the warming center through our Rotating Shelter Program. This year 18 faith based organizations will host up to 35 individuals each night, providing a bed at their facility for one or two weeks.