Providing Hope To The Hopeless, Abused, and Disadvantaged Of Our Community.
Providing Hope To The Hopeless, Abused, and Disadvantaged Of Our Community.
LANSING — The city is opening a new overnight family warming center this winter.
Nov. 27 is the anticipated opening date for the Letts Family Warming Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo St. Hours will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week.
The center will remain open through April 30 and promises to be the first of its kind for Lansing families, according to the city’s Friday statement announcing the opening.
There is a gap between the number of unsheltered families and the number of shelters, said Kimberly Coleman, director of Human Relations and Community Services Department, in an email.
“It is our hope to fill that gap by providing a safety net for these families,” she said.
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will operate and manage the nighttime warming center, which will be funded through an $800,000 allocation in the state budget for the city to establish such a shelter, according to the city.
The organization won a bid for proposals and operates several shelters, warming centers and facilities in Michigan.
“Keeping families together and sheltered during the cold winter months has to be a priority for Lansing,” said Coleman in the city’s statement. “We have had conversations with the school district and know that there is an incredible need out there right now.
“Our intent is to use the lessons learned this year to better serve our community in the future.”
The shelter will have a capacity of 75, she said, but during severe cold weather emergencies, deemed “Code Blue” by the city, the shelter’s capacity will be increased so it can accept seniors and individuals with disabilities.
During extremely cold times, there can be dozens of warming centers available in the Greater Lansing area, with libraries and churches and malls being among the places welcoming people to warm up.
Last year, Cage moved into a group home for veterans in Westland but didn’t have any privacy from his four other roommates, especially when his six-year-old son came to visit on the weekends. That was until a case worker at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recommended Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a nonprofit that recently opened veteran-exclusive supportive housing in Highland Park.
“I really had bad thoughts about Highland Park, but when I saw how nice the unit was, I realized the area is what you make of it,” said Cage, 47. “Ever since then, I’ve been watching the city transform as far as blight, painting murals and bringing the city back to life. Here, veterans are treated special. I know it’s a bad circumstance why I’m here and I don’t want to be treated that way. I’m treated with respect and so do other people who live here and I appreciate that most of all.”
Experts say creating more permanent housing for veterans is a key way to reduce homelessness and one local nonprofit is doing more on that front. In the last year, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries has converted 60 of its transitional units into permanent housing for veterans exiting homelessness.
The initiative is being done in coordination with Community Solutions, the Rocket Community Fund and the Home Depot Foundation.
Cage is a father of four ― three of his children are in college and his six-year-old son now enjoys staying with him on the weekend. Since he moved in around January, he pays $670 per month for the apartment and says it’s hard seeing himself leaving before April.
Noah Cage, left, sits with his dad, Sheldon Cage. Cage now lives in a development for veterans created by the Detroit Rescue Mission in Highland Park where Noah can visit him.
“I lost my job this year and was low on funds. They said, pay whenever you can… They make me mentally and physically comfortable and for my son who comes here on the weekend. It’s not a huge rush to get out and not a huge rush to stay,” said Cage, who served in the army from 1998-2012.
Fred Tucker, 63, was the first veteran to move into the apartments. He signed a year-long lease in August 2022 and recently left because he was able to move into his own home.
“My year there was exactly what I needed. A stable, clean place, a quiet place because I was coming from turmoil and I was blessed to be there for a year,” said Tucker, who served in the Army from 1978-1982. “I found out from my counselor about the housing at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and I loved my time there but I eventually wanted more space.”
“Living here, people complain about it being small and it is small but the way you are treated and how everything is safe, especially at night… It’s an opportunity to save and turn things around and I appreciate it. When I get back to how I want to live, I will credit this place for the bridge it helped me build,” Cage said.
Veterans in need of assistance should call 1-800-MICH-VET or visit Michigan.gov/MVAA.
srahal@detroitnews.com
In a world filled with the chaos of daily life, there are those whose sacrifices resonated silently, yet powerfully, throughout history. These unsung heroes, our veterans, have dedicated their lives to preserving the liberties we cherish. Today, as we pause to remember their unwavering dedication and selfless service, we must remember that gratitude is more than just words; it calls us to action.
At the Detroit Rescue Mission, we support our veterans not only in words but also in action. We understand that a simple “thank you” cannot express how grateful we are for the sacrifices they have made. Instead, we choose to show our gratitude by providing tangible support and unwavering dedication to those who have served our country.
Our mission is simple but profound: we want to make sure that our veterans are not only thanked for their service, but that they are also given the tools and opportunities to rebuild their lives once they return to civilian society. We believe that every veteran deserves a better future, free of the barriers that may impede their reintegration.
We provide housing for our heroes, a safe haven where they can rest and begin the healing process. But our dedication does not end there. We provide counseling and support services because we understand that the wounds of war often go beyond the physical. We work tirelessly to remove roadblocks to success, ensuring that our veterans have access to education, job opportunities, and the resources they need to reclaim their independence.
Our support, however, goes beyond the practical; it is based on the preservation of dignity and respect. We recognize that each veteran has a unique story to tell, and we value their experiences. Our doors are open to all, and we strive to foster an environment in which veterans can reclaim their sense of self-worth and purpose.
Our dedication to veterans is not limited to a single day of remembrance; it is a lifetime commitment to those who have given so much. We invite everyone to join us in this mission of thanks and action. We can work together to make a world in which every veteran is not just thanked for their service but is truly embraced and empowered.
As we remember our veterans today, let us keep in mind that our gratitude for their sacrifices should be translated into meaningful support and opportunities. Let us stand by them, assisting them in rewriting their stories and finding new beginnings. We can make a difference in the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty if we work together.
We thank our veterans not only in words but also in deeds. Your service has shaped our country, and your tenacity inspires us all. We will be eternally grateful, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your return home is filled with hope, dignity, and unwavering support.
Happy Veterans Day, and may we never forget the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our beloved country.
Chad Audi, President and CEO Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
DRMM is a 114-year-old organization that gives much needed hope and help to the homeless, jobless, drug-addicted and afflicted of southeast Michigan. For more information, please visit https://drmm.org or call 313-993-4700.
By Liz Lewin and David Komer
DETROIT (FOX 2) – As the temperatures drop, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries are working to provide an escape from the cold for those in need.
Dr. Chad Audi said he is bracing for an increased demand this winter at DRMM.
“I’ve always been all my life, very optimistic about everything,” said Audi. “This is the first time that I clearly say I’m very pessimistic about the future of our population.”
Homelessness is plaguing communities across the country, including here in Detroit and the percentage has been on the rise since 2017.
Just last year, the “National Alliance to end Homelessness” published data stating approximately 582,000 Americans were experiencing homelessness. That means in 2022 about roughly 18 out of every 10,000 people were homeless. A majority of them are adults – but families and kids as well.
What about here at home? The numbers have risen at least 10 percent, Audi said.
Approximately 8,500 Detroiters are currently experiencing homelessness with 5,900 of them in emergency situations.
“This does not include the people who are still not counted who live in vacant homes, who live under the (overpasses), or who actually live in cars in parking lots,” he said.
Audi is the president and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and is dedicated to finding a solution. That said, Audi believes the current top-down approach is harming more than it’s helping.
“We need to treat the real issue of homelessness,” he said. “We got mental health, we got affordable housing which we don’t have enough of, and then substance abuse and alcoholism.”
The city set up “Cam Detroit,” a coordinated entry system, to help place those in need of shelter. And while the intention is good, Audi says, the proof is in the people.
“The people cannot get referrals, they sit on the phone for about an hour and a half on average,” he said. “They want you to do the paper first and then see if you can help that person. And if I decided to help that person, and for some reason, forgot to do the paperwork, then you get penalized.”
He’s suggesting a boots-on-the-ground approach – with the agencies doing the work, take on the challenge.
“Take those 1.8 million dollars that you are allocating and give them to direct services – not to computers and not to staff to enter data,” Audi said.
Just yesterday the City closed one of a handful of emergency shelters leaving 52 men and one dog in need of a roof and warmth.
“Yesterday in one of our women and children shelters our capacity is 80 we had about 100 people coming in and we had more than 20 people we couldn’t take on,” Audi said.
Detroit has only three warming centers which are no match for the need.
“We are going to see more people dead and on the streets because of the cold,” he said.
To learn more about Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries or to donate, go HERE.
Warming Centers in Detroit:
Cass Community Social Services
11850 Woodrow Wilson St.
P: 313-883-2277
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries – Third Street Warming Center
11037 Mack Avenue
P: 313-331-8990
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries – Third Street Warming Center
3535 Third Ave
P: 313-993-6703
Several organizations offer emergency shelters for the homeless:
Mike Ellis
Sarah Rahal