Senate Hearing on Source of Income Protection Bills

From the Washtenaw Housing Alliance:

The Michigan Senate Housing and Human Services Committee held its first hearing on 3 source of income (SOI) nondiscrimination bills on May 16th. This is encouraging news! The WHA, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), Coalition for Expanding Housing Access (CEHA), and many other partners across the state have been advocating for a committee hearing since the bills were introduced earlier this year.

Senate bills 205, 206, and 207 would amend the Landlord Tenant Act and the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of a legal source of income (i.e. housing choice vouchers and other non-wage sources of income). Under current state law, there is no clear prohibition against a landlord refusing to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), veterans’ benefits, alimony, MDHHS cash assistance, SSI/SSDI as part of a person’s legal total combined income. These sources of income are many times what tenants, who earn low to no income, need when applying to rent a house or apartment in the neighborhood or community of their choice.

Read more on WHA’s website.

CoC Vaccine Data Project Summary

In January 2021 the City of Detroit began providing COVID-19 vaccine to the homeless community through Detroit Health Department (DHD) weekly clinics. The COVID-19 Vaccine Coordination Project began April 2021 and continued through March 2023. Vaccines were administered by DHD, HONU, Central City Integrated Health (CCIH), and the Wayne Health Mobile Unit.

• From January 2021 thru March 2023, 1584 shots were administered and recorded; 81.8 percent (1295) were primary doses;

• The first two shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the single shot of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

• Of the 6674 shelter and day center consumers during the project period, 10.8 percent, 724 individuals received at least their first shot.

• 185 primary boosters were administered, while 104 bivalent boosters were administered.

Presented vaccine data is for homeless adults whose information was entered in HMIS. Presented data does not represent all COVID-19 vaccines within the homeless community. Vaccinated children are not included.

The Vaccine Coordinators appreciate all the assistance of the shelter and day center administrators.

FY2022 CoC Competition Awards

On March 28, 2023, the Detroit CoC was awarded $32 million in CoC funding in the FY2022 Continuum of Care competition. A full list of projects awarded funding is available here. Projects were ranked according to our project prioritization ranking. Read the overview and analysis below or by clicking here.

Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day!

Over 20 million of low to moderate income households benefit from this credit every year.  To learn more here before you file your taxes go to the IRS website.

 For local help filing taxes & applying for the EITC or other tax credits, Wayne Metro CAA offers free tax preparation services. To book your appointment, either go to Wayne Metro's website,  call (313)388-9799 or (313)244-0274.

 The United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) also offers free and low cost tax preparation services. Preregister for services here.

 To file taxes on your own, use this free tool from the UWSEM.

Give Where You Live

This year, HAND has partnered with Mailchimp for the Give Where You Live campaign. The campaign’s purpose is to fundraise for nonprofits in Detroit and other cities.

You can support HAND in several ways. Purchase a gift card from Texas Roadhouse, present this flyer when you purchase a meal at Texas Roadhouse, or donate to HAND directly.

Letter of Intent

Submissions are closed

HAND is seeking letters of intent (LOI) from agencies interested in becoming the new CAM Lead Agency.

Though not required, agencies that think they may apply to become the new CAM Lead Agency are strongly encouraged to submit an LOI. Details on the LOI may be accessed here.

LOIs are due to Amanda Sternberg by December 16, 2022.

For questions or additional information contact Amanda Sternberg at amanda@handetroit.org or 313-380-1714.

HAND is Seeking a Coordinated Entry Consultant

Update: Position is filled

CAM Transition Consultant RFP

The Detroit CoC’s Lead Agency, the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND), is seeking an experienced consultant to help us identify a new Coordinated Entry Lead Agency. We are looking for a consultant/contractor to serve as project manager to oversee the successful transition and onboarding of a new Coordinated Entry Lead Agency. If you feel that your expertise is a good fit for this role, please submit a proposal. View the full job description here.

All submissions are due no later than 5pm on December 19th.

Homelessness Awareness Month

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HAND (@homelessactionnetworkofdetroit)

Embed Block

Add an embed URL or code. Learn more

November is Michigan's Homelessness Awareness Month (HAM)! To commemorate this, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness(MCAH) is hosting events and highlighting the important work of homeless service providers across the state.

To learn more or participate, go to https://bit.ly/MCHAM22.

How to Register to Vote!

The last day to register online is October 24th!

You can find more voting information at michiganvoting.org

Remember: Your vote is your voice!