“The affordable housing crisis in northwest Michigan is the No. 1 driver
of homelessness in our community. When the stock is very low and
the cost is very high, you’re going to see more homelessness than you otherwise would.”
"Our Coalition is reducing the social
and financial costs of homelessness—everything from emergency room visits to jail stays—and reinvesting that energy into long-term community
well-being."
“We need housing, housing, housing. Shelter doesn’t end homelessness. (It)
is meant to be a safe place for people to go, but emergency shelters should also be housing-focused and work to connect people to the resources.”
"Bringing attention to their struggles, whether that is the threat of theft, the hardship of living in these conditions, or the battles they face within themselves, change is needed."
“Offering a homeless person a permanent home is a stabilizing opportunity — it helps them regain a real sense of life, instead of simply surviving day-to-day."
"We have to go beyond housing alone. We also need to provide wrap-around services, such as mental and physical healthcare, counseling, job opportunities, addiction recovery services and a connection to the community.”
“In communities where there’s more units that are truly affordable for people, you don’t see as high of rates of people coming into homelessness as we do.”
“We believe our community has the talent, the resources, and the will to ensure that we have a shelter coordinated with supportive services and eventually permanent housing that restores the dignity and safety of our homeless community.”
"Homelessness is not an inevitable problem that communities have no way of tackling. There is a proven method to solve it, and it starts with insuring a community has enough safe and affordable housing."
“This $1 million investment is not only a crucial piece of the long-term strategy to end chronic homelessness – it is also a powerful signal of the city’s leadership and commitment to public-private collaboration, systems change, and a housing-first approach."
"So what we have to do is rely
on our data that shows that property values don't decrease because you
have affordable housing built in
your neighborhood."
