Hey BridgeDetroit readers! 👋

The federal government is making sweeping changes to how it funds housing programs across the country, leaving metro Detroit social service providers scrambling to keep people housed going into next year. 

The advocacy organization Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness estimated that more than 7,000 households, including roughly 2,000 families with children, could be impacted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s recent policy shift and facing “imminent homelessness,” according to the group’s public policy director.

Meanwhile, social service providers all across metro Detroit I spoke to warned of a looming crisis for hundreds of vulnerable residents − people with disabilities, children and seniors.

The Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND), for its part, said scaled-back funding for permanent housing would support an estimated 500 units, instead of the current 1,800 primarily in Detroit − a 72% decrease.

“We’re just concerned because we don’t have a shelter system that can support this mass amount of people going into homelessness,” Tasha Gray, executive director of HAND, recently told me. 

In a statement I received on Dec. 3 (after my deadline and the story published), a HUD spokesperson pushed back against the idea that homelessness would increase because of the funding shift and said the previous administration’s policies “chained homeless Americans to a never-ending cycle of government handouts while turning a blind eye to the root causes of homelessness, including illicit drugs and mental illness.” 

“We hope current permanent supportive housing providers will shift to transitional housing by providing robust wraparound support services for mental health and addiction to promote dignity and independence,” the statement went on to say. 

Are you worried about losing your permanent housing?
Are you a social service provider looking to share how this funding shift impacts people?
Reach out: nrahman@freepress.com 

Places to stay warm

It’s cold outside. The city of Detroit recently sent out a list of respite spots, including recreation centers and public library branches, where residents can go during regular hours to stay warm and how to access emergency shelter. Here’s a list of resources:

Recreation Centers

  • Adams Butzel Complex: 10500 Lyndon; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Butzel Family Center: 7737 Kercheval Ave.; Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
  • Clemente Recreation Center: 2631 Bagley; Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Coleman A. Young Recreation Center: 2751 Robert Bradby; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Community Center at AB Ford: 100 Lenox; Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Crowell Recreation Center: 16630 Lahser; Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to  9 p.m.
  • Farwell Recreation Center: 2711 E. Outer Dr.; Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Heilmann Recreation Center: 19601 Crusade; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Helen Moore Community Center: 11825 Dexter; Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Kemeny Recreation Center: 2260 S. Fort; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Lasky Recreation Center: 13200 Fenelon; Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Northwest Activities Center: 18100 Meyers; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to  9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Patton Recreation Center: 2301 Woodmere; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Detroit Public Library Branches

  • The Main Library: 5201 Woodward Ave.; Monday and Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Bowen Branch: 3648 W. Vernor Hwy.; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Campbell Branch: 8733 W. Vernor Hwy.; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Chandler Park Branch: 12800 Harper; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Chaney Branch: 16101 Grand River Ave.; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Chase Branch: 17731 W. 7 Mile Rd.; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Conely Branch: 4600 Martin; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Duffield Branch: 2507 W. Grand Blvd.; Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Edison Branch: 18400 Joy Rd; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Elmwood Park Branch: 550 Chene; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Franklin Branch: 13651 E. McNichols; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Hubbard Branch: 12929 W. McNichols; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Jefferson Branch: 12350 E. Outer Drive; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Knapp Branch: 13330 Conant; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Lincoln Branch: 1221 E. Seven Mile Rd; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Parkman Branch: 1766 Oakman Blvd; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Redford Branch: 21200 Grand River Ave.; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Sherwood Forest Branch: 7117 W. Seven Mile Rd; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wilder Branch: 7140 E. 7 Mile Rd; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Emergency shelter 

Call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520. The normal hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For in-person assessment and intake, go to: 

  • Cass Community Social Services: 12025 Woodrow Wilson St.; Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • NOAH at Central: 23 E. Adams Ave. (2nd floor); Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During weekdays, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., and anytime during the weekends, call the Street Outreach Team at 866-313-2520 or go to your nearest police station. 

On Your Radar

LELAND HOUSE: Residents of downtown Detroit’s Leland House apartments can stay, at least for now. A bankruptcy judge approved a plan last week to prevent a power shutoff. Tenants had previously received notice on Nov. 28 that the building was shutting down in 5 days, leaving them frustrated and confused. Read the latest.

RESILIENCE IN THE D: Niesha Lee, a BridgeDetroit Resilience in the D honoree, received a Spirit of Detroit award on Dec. 4 for her “extraordinary resilience, compassion, and leadership.” Over the summer, we spent an afternoon with Lee and wrote about her mobile salon providing free hairstyles, makeup and grooming at Detroit homeless shelters. Read the Resilience in the D series here.

Niesha Lee, poses between clients at her weekly hair salon pop-up at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Genesis II shelter Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Lee offers the services through Inspiring Hair LLC, her mobile salon that provides free hairstyles, makeup and grooming at Detroit homeless shelters. Credit: Valaurian Waller for Bridge Detroit

Nushrat Rahman covers issues and obstacles that influence economic mobility, primarily in Detroit, for the Detroit Free Press and BridgeDetroit, as a corps member with Report for America, a national service...

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *