In wake of child tragedy, City reminds those struggling with homelessness that help is available

After yesterday’s tragic death of two children whose mother was struggling with homelessness, the City of Detroit today is reminding all residents that help is available and that no one needs to sleep outside or in their vehicle.  

How to get into emergency shelter 

If you or anyone you know, is facing a housing crisis, please have them call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520. The helpline operates Monday-Friday from 8am-6pm and on Saturday from 9am-12pm.  

If you find yourself sleeping outside and need help outside of the HelpLine business hours, please go to the closest police precinct where they can connect residents with an Outreach team for help with overnight services. 

This winter, the City also began providing 24/7 street outreach in an effort to make sure no one in need of shelter goes without it.  

Record number of beds available 

The City and its partners over the past two years have added 500 additional emergency shelter beds, many of them during the winter months.  

Outside of winter, the homelessness system currently has 1,202 beds, compared to 924 beds in 2023. During winter more than 200 additional emergency shelter beds have been brought online to support residents and family seeking emergency shelter, bringing the total winter capacity to 1,414 beds, the most the city ever has had. 

110 New 24/7 Drop In Center Beds 

Of those 1,414 beds, 110 are for a new program called Drop-In Centers. These beds are available specifically to serve residents who are sleeping outside or in their cars. There are 75 new Drop In Beds at Cass Social Services and 35 Drop In Beds at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.  

The Drop-In Centers allows DPD, hospitals, and street outreach teams to directly bring residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness to the location for immediate assistance. At the Drop-In Center residents are then connected to a regular emergency shelter bed for ongoing support. 

 Mayor Duggan also has directed Deputy Mayor Melia Howard and Housing & Revitalization Department Director Julie Schneider to develop a report in the next 14 days that addresses these four issues:  

1. A full review of the circumstances of the history of the death of the two children in the Hollywood Casino parking structure, including the family history of requests for service to the City of Detroit Homeless Services.
2. A review of the Housing Service Specialist phone center protocols to make certain that residents are receiving clear explanations of the services available.
3. The adoption of a policy that Homeless Outreach Worker visits will be automatic in response to any call for service in which minors are at experiencing homelessness.
4. review of the city’s public information program to make certain that information on city services is being received by those most in need.