Shelter Association Of Washtenaw

ENDING HOMELESSNESS ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM - PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SUPPORTS TO HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN IN WASHTENAW COUNTY EACH YEAR. EACH CLIENT PARTNERS WITH A SAWC CASE MANAGER TO CREATE MUTUAL GOALS IN A HOUSING PLAN. THE PLAN FOCUSES ON OVERCOMING HOUSING BARRIERS THROUGH REFERRALS TO HOUSING RESOURCES AND VOUCHERS, BENEFIT COORDINATION, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. EACH YEAR, THE SHELTER ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WASHTENAW COUNTY. THE SAWC HAS A GOAL OF ASSISTING AT LEAST 60% OF RESIDENTIAL GUESTS TO LOCATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING EACH YEAR. CLIENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH ADDRESSING OTHER NEEDS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HELP WITH FINDING EMPLOYMENT, AND MEDICAL NEEDS AMONG OTHERS.

SHELTER ASSOCIATION WINTER PROGRAMS - OPERATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FROM MID-NOVEMBER TO EARLY APRIL AND INCLUDES 85 ADDITIONAL WARMING CENTER BEDS AND 25 ROTATING SHELTER BEDS. THE WARMING CENTER OPERATINGS ON THE 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR OF THE DELONIS CENTER AND THE ROTATING SHELTER OFFERS 25 BEDS HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 20 PARTNER CONGREGATIONS THROUGHOUT WASHTENAW COUNTY. THE WINTER PROGRAM ALSO OPERATES A DAY SHELTER THAT IS PROVIDED OFF-SITE DURING THE WEEK AT LOCAL CONGREGATIONS AND ONSITE AT THE DELONIS CENTER ON WEEKENDS. SOCIAL WORKERS OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED HOUSING PLANS, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND HOUSING VOUCHER SIGN UP ASSISTANCE. ADDITIONAL BASIC NEED SERVICES INCLUDE AN ONSITE MEDICAL CLINIC, LAUNDRY, STORAGE, SHOWERS, PHONE AND MAIL ACCESS. IN THE 2022-2023 WINTER SEASON, 613 PERSONS ACCESSED THE NIGHT TIME SHELTER FOR THE WINTER PROGRAMS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 73 PERSONS STAYING EACH NIGHT.

THE SHELTER NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM - AIDS UP TO 60-85 INDIVIDUALS AT A TIME TO LOCATE SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A CASE MANAGER TO ASSIST THE CLIENT WITH ACCESSING SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS BEFORE A RESIDENTIAL BED BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, 38 INDIVIDUALS AND 15 FAMILIES SECURED HOUSING IN THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT HAVING TO STAY A NIGHT IN SHELTER, AND AN ADDITIONAL 17 INDIVIDUALS WERE HOUSED THROUGH NON RESIDENTIAL CASE MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONAL BASIC NEEDS SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE AN ONSITE MEDICAL CLINIC, LAUNDRY, STORAGE, SHOWERS, PHONE AND MAIL ACCESS. CLIENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH ADDRESSING OTHER RELATED NEEDS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND HELP WITH FINDING EMPLOYMENT.

HEALTH CLINIC - PACKARD HEALTH PARTNERS WITH THE SHELTER ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE AND A ONCE A WEEK PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC FOR MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND MEDICATION REVIEWS. IN THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR, THE SAWC/PACKARD COLLABORATION SERVED OVER 184 PERSONS. THIS INTEGRATED CARE MODEL IS SUCCESSFUL IN LINKING A VULNERABLE, PRIORITY POPULATION TO VITAL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE WITH REDUCED MEDICAL ADHERENCE AND ACCESS TO CARE. THE NEEDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED; THE PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS WITH A DISABILITY HAS INCREASED FROM 46% TO OVER 70% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, MAKING THIS PROGRAM VITAL TO OUR EFFORTS TO END HOMELESSNESS.