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Committee authorizes short-term emergency contract for after-hours helpline, outreach and transport for unsheltered residents
Summary
The committee authorized an emergency contract to continue an after-hours helpline, outreach response and transportation for unsheltered individuals through June 30, 2025, while the city issues a one-year RFP to continue services.
The Committee of the Whole voted to authorize an emergency agreement to continue after-hours and weekend helpline responses, outreach and transportation for unsheltered individuals and families.
Council Member Leticia Johnson moved to approve the resolution to authorize contract number 6007040. Tara Linsner, homelessness solutions director in the Housing and Revitalization Department, told the committee the emergency contract covers services through June 30, 2025, while the department issues a request for proposals for a one-year contract to follow. “We will also be doing a request for proposals to continue this exact service for a period of 1 year,” Linsner said.
Linsner described the service components: live staff answering a dedicated line during the late evening and overnight hours (described in the meeting as between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday), crews that deploy in two vans to known gathering points, provision of basic necessities on site, and transportation or direct drop-off to drop-in centers and emergency shelter. She said outreach teams coordinate with the Detroit Police Department’s unsheltered response unit and the general services division when cleanups of encampments are scheduled.
During the discussion committee members asked about the contract amount and the budget. Committee staff referenced a short-term total of $250,000 tied to the emergency agreement and Linsner provided a breakdown of functions covered by those dollars — staff time for phone coverage and outreach shifts, transportation and basic needs supplies — and said a formal RFP process is underway to bring a longer contract to council before the emergency agreement expires.
The committee approved the motion by voice consent. Linsner gave two contact numbers for the public to request help during off hours: (313) 501-956 (as given on the record) and a backup number (866) 313-2520; callers hearing an away message were directed to the (313) number or to approach their nearest police precinct for an outreach connection.
