Covenant House Michigan

Statewide, Michigan had an estimated 32,589 homeless individuals as of 2022, up from 30,113 the year before. The Supreme Court's recent decision to criminalize #homelessness sets up another system that will keep a person in the cycle of homelessness, said Meagan Dunn, CEO of Covenant House of Michigan, which provides emergency shelter and other services for homeless youth in Detroit and Grand Rapids. Emergency shelters on both sides of the state are full, she said. There have been many systems that have failed the homeless, whether housing, healthcare, access to education or jobs and workforce, Dunn said. "The long term outcome ... criminalizing homelessness and a person receiving a ticket for simply sleeping on the street because they don't have access to a home or a safe space to to sleep, it could either (return) someone into the criminal justice system or ... begin their journey." Click below for the full story from Crain's Detroit Business

It may be rainy and warm outside, but to us it feels like CHRISTMAS. Please join us for 'Christmas in July' by collecting urgently needed items for our Clothing Closet. Items can be dropped off at our Covenant House Michigan locations: DETROIT: 2959 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. GRAND RAPIDS: 26 Antoine St SW ** DROP OFF any Thursday in July from 2-5 p.m. ** TOP 10 MOST URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS: 1. African American hair care products 2. Body lotion and Vaseline 3. Women's and men's underwear (larger sizes) 4. Sports bras and women's bras 34-30/ C, D, DD 5. Ladies yoga pants/leggings 6. Mens's joggers (small, medium, large, XL) 7. Men's white T-shirts (small, medium, large, XL) 8. Women's casual tops (with sleeves) 9. Men's hoodies with zippers 10. Twin sheet sets Can’t make it to campus? You can still conveniently support by having your “gifts” delivered using our Amazon Wish List: https://lnkd.in/eqKqUDVC Questions? Email [email protected] or call (313) 463-2016. Thank you from all of us at CHMI. #ChristmasInJuly

Yesterday was bittersweet for all of us at Covenant House Michigan. We celebrated our longtime team member and friend, Cynthia Adams, who is retiring after 27 amazing, inspiring years. Cynthia embodies everything about our mission, and she has been with Covenant House Michigan since the beginning – September of 1997. She will be dearly missed by our team, residents, volunteers, and all who know her. “When you see a young person walk through our gates and they seem to have nothing to smile about, then you see them a week later talking about their goals and they're full of energy - to me, that's a success,” she says. “I will always remember the young people here. And the reason why we're here.” Congratulations, Cynthia, on nearly three decades of incredible service to our community. In honor of Cynthia’s retirement, please consider purchasing a leaf or rock for our giving wall to help us kick off our 27th year. Visit: https://lnkd.in/eWaVx-xF

We marked Juneteenth today at CHMI with a celebration, an education session, traditional African American dishes or "Soul Food," activities, prizes, dancing, and fellowship. Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

Covenant House Michigan's street outreach team is out all the time, but especially during extreme weather conditions like we had today. Detroit remains under excessive heat warnings through Friday. CBS News Detroit stopped by today to check in. Our team goes to neighborhoods, parks, and other places where young people facing homelessness often seek refuge. We may offer food, water, essential supplies, counseling and invite them to come to Covenant House, where their immediate, basic needs can be met. If you or someone you know (age 18-24) is in crisis, call (313) 305-0311 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays or (313) 463-2500 after hours and on weekends. In the Grand Rapids area, contact the shelter directly at (616) 608-1380.

During this #PrideMonth we are proud to re-share this important panel discussion led by our CHMI Associate Board entitled LGBTQ + Youth Homelessness Today. Click below to watch. Did you know? More than 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ youths have reported that they have experienced homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. They are also more likely to find themselves in dangerous situations when they are homeless, and more likely to face mental health challenges as a result. Panelist included: the Trevor Project’s Dr. Jonah DeChants, the Ruth Ellis Center’s Amorie Robinson, the Detroit Phoenix Center’s Ayana Odom Foxworth, and Covenant House International's Paulina Fangel. Panel moderated by Sean Hyland, Board Member at the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Since 2014, Covenant House has been in collaboration with True Colors United to help us implement best practices to welcome and serve LGBTQ+ youth and create trainings and policies to reinforce our practice of unconditional love and absolute respect.

Check out these baskets filled with LOVE! Thank you to our friends at Deloitte who recently took part in a National Service Day. They packed 30 transition kits for residents of CHMI with the core items needed for any new place (shower liner, starter pot/skillet, cleaning products, broom dust pan, etc.) and lunch bags (Jimmy John's sandwiches with assorted snacks). Additionally, each transition kit is accompanied by a sponsored furniture voucher for $100. While this group was making a delivery in Detroit, there was also a Deloitte group in Grand Rapids serving for the day. We are truly grateful!

During our recent Night of Detroit Stars, we had the chance to feature some of our CHMI stars including Christopher. Here is his story! "They've inspired a sense of independence in me," he says. Thanks to YOUR incredible support, A Night of Detroit Stars raised over $355,000 to help fuel our ongoing efforts to end youth homelessness in our community. #CHMI #changinglives

Our CEO Meagan Dunn and executive assistant Amy Maple recently attended the Kirk in the Hills annual Faith Leader breakfast. This year's event theme was faith leaders' response to human trafficking, something the CHMI team works to address every single day. Meagan was proud to serve as a keynote speaker. Human trafficking negatively impacts the lives of many individuals and families in our communities, regardless of age, race and ethnicity. As leaders, we must confront and respond to this harm upon people’s lives. Faith leaders from all houses of worship and across the community took part in this impactful event.

✨The STARS are out tonight in Detroit for a A Night of Detroit Stars at @motorcitycasino Sound Board to benefit CHMI. ✨Such an amazing and good looking crowd!!! The show is about to begin featuring incredible local talent!!! Strike up the band!! 🔥