The City of Detroit wants residents to know that warming shelters are now open for those that need help with escaping winter weather conditions. According to the Detroit Health Department and Housing and Revitalization Department, Detroiters seeking warmth can go to three shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
Each year, facilities come online to serve residents needing relief from the cold. All individuals are supervised at all times to ensure the safety and security. They are also provided with hot meals, showering and sleeping accommodations. Clients are also encouraged to take advantage of support services available, such as referrals, housing assistance, and other related services. These services are critical as temperatures drop and residents need heat and warmth.
“Winter weather creates additional challenges and risks for Detroiters, and the City of Detroit and its partners are dedicated to providing not just an escape from the cold, but also housing services that can help them in the longer term,” said Terra Linzner, homelessness solutions director for the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department.
The department also provided an update on numbers that give insight into the state of homelessness as the city heads into winter.
Warming Center info
Three City-funded warming centers are open now through March 31 that provide protection from cold weather, meals, showers, sleeping accommodations, and housing assistance services to residents experiencing homelessness. To ensure the safety and security of residents using warming centers, all three facilities are supervised at all times.
Individuals, families and youth seeking shelter or warming center placements can call (313) 305-0311 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesdays for assistance.
Veterans seeking shelter should go to the Dingell VA Hospital, 4646 John R St., Red Tower 2nd Floor, from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays or 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Outside of these hours of operation, or on holidays, those seeking shelter should come in person to one of the following three warming center locations:
- Cass Community Social Services
Phone number: (313) 883-2277
Facility open for: Families and single women
- Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries - Mack Warming Center
Phone number: (313) 331-8990
Facility open for: Families and single women
- Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries - Third Street Warming Center
Phone number: (313) 993-6703
Facility open for: Single men
“With cold weather already here, the City of Detroit has activated warming centers and respite locations to ensure that everyone has a safe place to stay warm,” said Denise Fair Razo, the City of Detroit’s chief public health officer. “We are once again working with our community partners across all neighborhoods so Detroiters who are experiencing homelessness or loss of heat in their residence have a place close by to stay warm.”
For more information regarding shelters and warming centers, call CAM at (313) 305-0311. Anyone can also call that number to speak with staff about available shelter options and alternatives to shelters. Go to www.camdetroit.org/cam-access-points for more information.
Each year during the winter months, these warming centers are brought online to provide an additional 135 overnight shelter beds – of which 100 are dedicated for families with children. The City is also using providing funding to continue operations of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Oasis program that opened during the pandemic, allowing for an additional 140 beds to stay online during the winter months. These shelters are funded using U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding.
Updates on homelessness in Detroit
Similar to communities across the United States, Detroit’s homelessness response system consists of the work of the City, community-based organizations, and other agencies.
Detroit’s homelessness response system, called a Continuum of Care (CoC), is led by the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND). As the lead agency, HAND is responsible for the general oversight of the homelessness response system in Detroit. It coordinates partners from nonprofits to City government departments, and manages Detroit’s grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for homelessness services funding.
Though not the lead agency for the homelessness response system, the City of Detroit’s Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) is one of the primary funders for emergency shelters in Detroit. As a member of the CoC, HRD works with HAND to determine how to solve areas of need in the homelessness response system.
The number of residents using emergency shelter in Detroit has significantly decreased since 2016, but did experience an uptick in 2022. This was expected following the end of the eviction moratorium and stimulus funds running out. In 2016, 6,643 clients stayed in Detroit’s emergency shelter system. This dropped to 3,428 clients in 2021. In 2022, roughly 4,533 clients stayed in the emergency shelter system, according to HAND data.
Respite daytime locations
In addition to the overnight shelters listed above, the Detroit Public Library also allows Detroiters a place to go to escape cold weather during daytime hours. The libraries are operating under COVID-19 protocols, which includes limited capacity and the mandatory wearing of masks.
- Bowen Branch3648 W. Vernor/W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48216 • (313)481-1540 Hours: M, W & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; T & Th: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Campbell Branch8733 W. Vernor/Springwells, Detroit, MI 48209 • (313)481-1550 Hours: T, Th, & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; M & W: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Chandler Park Branch12800 Harper, Detroit, MI 48213 • (313)481-1560 Hours: W & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Th: Noon- 8 p.m.
- Duffield Branch2507 W. Grand Blvd./14th St., Detroit, MI 48208 • (313)481-1710 Hours: M, W & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; T & Th: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Edison Branch18400 Joy/Southfield, Detroit, MI 48228 • (313)481-1720 Hours: T, Th & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; M & W: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Elmwood Park Branch550 Chene/Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48207 • (313)481-1730 Hours: M, W, Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; T & Th: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Franklin Branch13651 E. McNichols/Gratiot, Detroit, MI • (313)481-1740 Hours: M, W, Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; T & Th: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Knapp Branch13330 Conant/E. Davison, Detroit, MI 48212 • (313)481-1770 Hours: T, Th & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; M & W: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Main Library5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202 • (313)481-1300 Hours: T & W: Noon - 8 p.m.; Th, F & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun (Oct-May): 1 - 5 p.m.
- Parkman Branch1766 Oakman Blvd./Linwood, Detroit, MI 48238 • (313)481-1810 Technology, Literacy & Career (TLC) Center: (313)481-1814 Hours: T, Th & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; M & W: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Redford Branch21200 Grand River/W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48219 • (313)481-1820 Hours: T, Th & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; M & W: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Sherwood Forest Branch 7117 W. 7 Mile Rd./Livernois, Detroit, 48221 • (313)481-1840 Hours: M, W & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; T & Th: Noon - 8 p.m.
- Wilder Branch7140 E. 7 Mile Rd./Van Dyke, Detroit, 48234 • (313)481-1870 Hours: M & W: Noon - 8:00 p.m.; T, Th & Sa: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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