Detroit’s new Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services will be funded by splitting off nearly half of the city’s Housing and Revitalization Department budget.
Chief of Staff David Bowser and Chief Financial Officer Tonya Stoudemire briefed a Feb. 25 City Council committee on an executive organization plan that shows the structure of Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration. Stoudemire said the $90.6 million budget for the Housing and Revitalization Department will provide $41.4 million for the new DHHFS for the 2026 fiscal year ending June 30.
Stoudemire said the budget split would leave $45.9 million with HRD. The mayor’s 2027 budget proposal will show future funding amounts for all departments. Stoudemire said next year’s budgets for both departments will look similar.
Bowser said the new DHHFS will take over a variety of “people-centered issues” and services, like homeless solutions, Homeowners Property Exemption program, rental tenant escrow, downpayment assistance and home repair, the Detroit Housing Network, Detroit ID program, Detroit Home Connect and returning citizens liaisons.
Some of those programs were previously with HRD and others were with the Detroit Health Department.
“This is a mission change, as is the vision of the mayor,” Bowser said. “The point is to allow HRD to focus on housing development, infill housing and affordable housing. What we’re able to do is take out direct services and the case management. All these things take away from the focus of the housing department to do innovative housing initiatives.”
Bowser said the Health Department will focus on addressing chronic diseases, maternal and infant health, outreach to families impacted by lead exposure and asthma from environmental pollution.
“When we address the basic household needs like transportation, IDs and housing for individuals, they begin to participate more in physical health programming,” Bowser said. “That’s why we wanted to move basic needs out of the Health Department, make sure we’re stabilizing individuals with (DHHFS) and then making sure we make the connection to health. Hopefully we’ll see more enrollment in health programs.”
The City Council must vote to authorize the funding shift, but Stoudemire said it’s a budget-neutral change in existing dollars. Bowser said council members can think of it like a personnel shift. DHHFS will have 109 staff and HRD will have 89. No changes to health department personnel were reported last week.
Benita Miller is director of the new Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services. She’s a Detroit native who worked at social service organizations in New York and New Jersey, focused on children, mothers and families.
Miller reports to Luke Shaefer, the city’s first Chief Executive of Health, Human Services and Poverty Solutions. Shaefer founded the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions research initiative. He will also oversee the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion and Detroit Health Department.
Julie Schneider is executive director of HRD. A chief of Housing, Planning, Workforce and Economic Development hasn’t been publicly announced.
Bowser said the upcoming budget will provide more details on the city’s support for the Right to Counsel legal defense program for renters. The $20.5 million program is funded with pandemic relief dollars that must be spent by the end of 2026. Stoudemire said some funding is available in the first half of the upcoming fiscal year, and Bowser said the mayor committed to finding funding to continue the program.
“The mayor has indicated that we want to make Detroiters homeowners first and foremost, so whatever we do in the housing space, they will be tailored to Detroit residents,” Bowser said. “Increasing quality of life for Detroit residents will naturally bring other people here to fill out our population, but we want to focus first and foremost on Detroit residents and how our programming and approach to increase quality of life.”
An organizational chart presented to the City Council outlines the responsibilities of Sheffield’s cabinet members but doesn’t include the names for all positions.
Do you think upgrading the lots we could get some assistance helping with the cost of fencing to make the lot looking good being a Senior Citizen my funds are very limited Thank You Mr Frederick L Cole
Until they get rid of the corrupt land bank, they are Duggan lite and just catering to the needs of the Gilbert’s the illitches and the marouns.
Will this help Detroiters such as myself be able to become a homeowner more affordable ? Because I am tired of renting from these darn slumlords but trying to afford a roof over my head and eat seems so far out of reach im a mother of three on a fixed income do to disabilities
Yeah, cuz it worked so well in San Francisco and Seattle…
Fools!
Salaam madam Mayor does this mean that the old funding system was not effective under the past administration? The new process that u desire, is it legal? What does the law department say and the government?
On another subject. The Davison-Linwood area is looking so war torn, it’s amazing Durfee School is still standing. The area is so battered with raggedy roads and apartments. Does anyone care about that neighborhood?
Sounds like another move in the wrong direction. First order of business is to redirect money into something that is not going to make money for the city or encourage people with money to want to live here or raise the value of the homes for people who already own homes? Not pour into businesses or encourage new companies to the City. Not pour money into our School systems or City services but instead let’s pour money into Low Income Housing. Are you Serious?
I own my home and my lights are off when are we going to address DTE and the water Company we can get new homes but what is a home when you can not afford to keep the lights on and they are steady increasing they are at at least $500.00 to $600.00 a month and DTE is asking for another increase I have a mortgage to pay and a car note I can’t even buy groceries for my family my gas bill is over $3,000.00..the struggle is real and nobody is talking about it we live in homes but one job doesn’t cut it how do we survive???
I know what you mean DTE is slaving citizens to stay warm. It’s unfair and something needs yo be done.
That’s a great point mine was $515 last month and is in the $600’s this month I use never paid that much for lights and gas it’s a rip off for sure.
And since the has a tricounty board over our water the charge is more for our own water we are paying what others pay for their water who do not live here in Detroit!
Detroit needs to focus on its citizens who have been loyal and are still here. Gentrification is real!
Of course. The problem with the housing in Detroit has always been there aren’t enough committees and departments eating up all the funding and tax money. And here I was thinking it should be spent on housing for the homeless. Silly me, it is much better to put it towards more redundant beurocrates pay checks so they can add more red tape and paperwork to file and be signed in triplicate between 4 different agencies that all use a different filing system. Maybe by next year they will free up a whole house for someone who might be homeless.
I’m a senior who have been living in an apartment downtown. I find it’s not working for me. Since the beginning of Covid19 outbreak, renting and owning a home have been a dream I. Could reach. How can I afford a place to call home and still get my medical needs met and bring food to the tables ? I’ve been stuck.
John 12:8, the poor you always have with you. In short, do the right thing whenever you can. For over 8 months, I have been in a “poor” status due to health issues. However, my faith in God has increased. I am blessed with a roof, food, and ability to find resources within my community. The poor has ambition, and a desires to acquire affordable housing, a vehicle, as well as home repair resources. I look after my neighbors, and volunteer in my community when possible. Being poor is not constant, wrap around services are needed for many residents.