What are Housing Crisis Services?
The Housing Crisis team provides information and referral services, short-term crisis
counseling, limited financial assistance when funding is available, and coordination of services with other agencies serving families and individuals experiencing housing difficulties.
Such difficulties may include problems with landlords, unsafe housing, the need for shelter, the need to find affordable housing, or eviction prevention. In addition, the housing crisis team conducts the initial screening for the SOS Prospect Place Family Shelter Program.
Who receives Housing Crisis Services?
Housing Crisis Services assists families and individuals who reside in or are moving to Washtenaw County.
What are Eviction Prevention and Housing Relocation services?
Eviction Prevention helps families and individuals who have been served with an eviction notice to maintain housing by providing financial assistance for a portion of their rent. This assistance depends on availability of funds.
Housing Relocation helps homeless families to obtain housing with financial assistance for a portion of the rent on a new apartment. This assistance depends on availability of funds. Housing Crisis Services will work with families to identify other sources of financial assistance.
Who is eligible for Eviction Prevention and Housing Relocation services?
Families are eligible for financial assistance if they have:
- an income that will help them to sustain their housing
- an eviction notice of seven days (only for families needing eviction prevention assistance)
What if families need emergency shelter?
Housing Crisis Services can refer consumers to emergency shelters within and outside of Washtenaw County, usually in the Detroit or Jackson area. If families need transportation to shelters outside of the county, Housing Crisis Services will provide transportation. (Transportation assistance is dependent upon available funding.)
When there are openings, Housing Crisis Services screens families for the SOS Prospect Place Family Shelter. Families are then referred to Prospect Place Family Shelter staff for a comprehensive intake and assessment.
What are some of the reasons that families seek assistance?
Lack of Affordable Housing--Many families cannot afford housing in Washtenaw County. Due to the lack of affordable housing options, families are often forced to spend more than 75% of their total income for housing.
Lack of Family Emergency Shelters--In Washtenaw County, there are three homeless family shelters for families who are not in a domestic violence situation and who are over the age of 18. These shelters have approximately 17 family units. Many families are forced to seek emergency shelter outside of Washtenaw County. When families move out of the county to be housed in emergency shelters, adult family members may lose their jobs. Children are uprooted from their schools and friendship networks.
Challenges in Renting Apartments--Some landlords and apartment complexes are biased against families with poor credit records, large families, disabilities, etc. Housing Crisis Services team members work with consumers to identify alternative housing options and refer them to legal advocacy support if they suspect discrimination.
How do people access our services?
We are located at 114 North River Street in Ypsilanti. The Housing Crisis Services' phone hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We can be reached at (734) 484-4300. Housing Crisis Services team members are available to meet in person with families Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
