DETROIT – The city of Detroit preparing to activate overnight respite centers in response to this weekend’s colder temperatures. The centers will allow homeless Detroiters to seek shelter from the cold.
---> Entire lower peninsula of Michigan under Winter Weather Advisory
“The focus over the next couple of days is not only reviewing the interactions the family may have had with homeless services, both in Detroit and Wayne County as well, but also reviewing our policies and procedures related to families that are calling in for resources to the helplines,” said Julie Schneider, Detroit’s director of Housing and Revitalization.
Earlier this week, Mayor Mike Duggan announced he’s giving that team two weeks to do an in-depth administrative analysis into how outreach is being delivered to some of Detroit’s most vulnerable residents.
The decision comes as temperatures continue dipping across the region and Detroit has already launched its Code Blue Emergency System.
”We want to make sure that people know they do not have to stand outside,“ Schneider said. ”They do not have to be outside. There are places for them to come in.”
The city of Detroit and its partners have been expanding services for the unsheltered for months, with the help of its partners. However, addressing a perceived disconnect is now part of city leadership’s task.
”What our trained officers are to do is provide a link to our outreach teams. Our outreach teams would then be able to come to the precincts and get you and your family to one of our standup or drop-in shelters,“ Schneider said. ”So that you are safe and warm for the evening. I understand that that could be a concern for people going to a police precinct. But our precincts are located on bus routes. Our officers are trained to respond to people needing this type of assistance and want to connect people in an environment that is warm and safe from the elements.”
City staff is urging neighbors to spread the word that the city of Detroit is activating two overnight respite centers. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries on Woodward Avenue is open now through Tuesday, Feb. 18. And the Pope Francis Center on West Hancock will open Sunday, Feb. 16 through Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The cold weather line through Detroit Housing Resources is 866-313-2520.