Starting Monday, November 11th, 2019, any individuals seeking emergency shelter during the upcoming cold winter months can find a safe and warm place to sleep each night at the Delonis Center (312 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) and partnering religious congregations throughout Washtenaw County. Shelter will be available following the Center’s nightly, open-to-the-public, 5pm dinner. In addition to providing beds and meals, individuals will be able available to access a wide variety of services including case management, medical care, and assistance finding safe, permanent housing. Winter shelter is operated by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC), and financially supported by Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, and SAWC itself.
“More than 3,000 individuals experience some form of homelessness every year in Washtenaw County, and while we have systems working to get them into safe and permanent housing, we need to make sure we are providing them a safe place to stay every single night,” said OCED Human Services Manager, Morghan Williams Boydston. “It is especially dangerous for individuals and families to spend nights on streets, in cars, and other locations not meant for human habitation when the temperature drops below freezing, which is why we make these additional 113 beds available for the next several months.”
Individuals and families seeking shelter or experiencing a housing crisis should contact Housing Access for Washtenaw County (HAWC) to be referred to the Delonis Center or other appropriate resources. HAWC can be reached at 734.961.1999. If it is after 5pm, individuals can go directly to the Delonis Center to receive assistance. This nightly winter shelter will be open until March 31st, 2020, pending spring weather conditions.
In addition to providing winter shelter, SAWC has also announced daytime shelter accommodations at the Delonis Center and local congregations at varying times, generally 9am – 4pm, available from December 2nd through March 27th to ensure folks can stay warm around the clock this winter. Specific locations and dates can be found by following this link or by calling the Delonis Center at 734.662.2829.
The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County provides temporary shelter and supportive services in a safe and caring environment, and works with the community to allocate the necessary resources to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. You can learn more by visiting annarborshelter.org/ or by following /DelonisCenter on Facebook and @SAWCdelonis on Twitter.
The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED)is a government agency committed to stepping out of traditional government roles to drive long-term system changes that increase equity and opportunity for all residents. OCED manages the support for Winter Shelter on behalf of Washtenaw County and the City of Ann Arbor. OCED also manages the Washtenaw County Continuum of Care, a coalition of organizations and individuals responding to homelessness in our community. You can learn more by visiting www.washtenaw.org/coc and washtenaw.org/oced or by following @washtenawOCED on Facebook and Twitter.