FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
These are a few of the initial questions people have about the Campaign to End Homelessness in Michigan. We will add more as we collect further questions and respond to them.
Q. Is homelessness a real problem in Michigan?
A. There are more than 86,000 homeless people in Michigan, enough people to populate a large city. Over one-third of the homeless are working poor, and nearly 60 percent are female heads of households.
Q. What is the Campaign to End Homelessness in Michigan?
A. The Campaign to End Homeless in Michigan began in 2006 and is a ten-year effort to end homelessness. In 2006, the Governor launched this Campaign, and across Michigan 60 local Continuum of Care Body’s gathered to create their own local ten-year plan that provides focus, coordination, and implementation of actions to address homelessness in their community.
Q. Who is involved in the Campaign?
A. The individuals and groups who created the local plans are also often the people working to solve homelessness in their community. They come from all sectors: business, service agencies, faith-based organizations, state and local government, civic leaders, engaged citizens, and more.
Q. Do people believe that ending homelessness is possible?
A. Absolutely. Ending homelessness is a social movement sweeping the state. People know that no man, women, or child should be left to sleep on the streets, on a cot, or in a car in Michigan. Michigan’s political will is dedicated and focused. Through that political will, the use of existing funds and stimulus dollars we can and will end homelessness in Michigan.
Q. What kind of resources will it take to end homelessness?
A. Since 2006, the Campaign has made great strides. The state of Michigan’s 10-Year Plan has over 40 initiatives in-place to end homelessness. Michigan’s Homeless Management Information System, a statewide data collection that will tell us who is homeless, how they became homeless, where they are, what services they need, how they currently are accessing services, and the costs, has won national awards. Michigan has shifted focus from sheltering to homeless prevention and rapid re-housing, a model that stabilizes households and offers services that enable housing retention. This shift, along with a coordinated approach across multiple state and community agencies will more efficiently and effectively use our current resources. (For other initiatives, see the state of Michigan’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness).
Q. When will the homeless see the difference?
A. Many already have. There are many success stories of individuals and families that have turned the corner by finding stable housing, necessary training, and employment.
Q. Who is this Website for?
A. This site was created to communicate with the many individuals and groups that represent the 60 local ten-year plans to end homelessness in Michigan. It is a forum for discussion, a place to share success stories and successful programs, and a tool for keeping our plans on track. In addition, the site serves as a communication hub for all the groups and stakeholders involved in the state or local plans. Because Michigan has accomplished many “firsts” in our efforts to end homelessness, we are finding that many visitors from across the country want to access the site, including those involved with homelessness initiatives at the national level.
Q. Do I have access to all of this Web site?
A. Nearly the entire site is available to anyone. We are credentialing our local partners when it comes to updating progress report from individual groups. Should you have difficulty accessing any part of the site, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Q. If I subscribe to your newsletter, will you share my information with anyone else?
A. No, we will not. Our newsletter is your regular portal to this Website to keep you posted on the many new activities and accomplishments related to the Campaign to End Homelessness.