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Alpha House reports winter surge, seeks master-lease houses for large families
Summary
Alpha House told Washtenaw County commissioners it sheltered dozens of families under the weather-amnesty program this winter, is pursuing MDHHS master-lease funding to place larger families in houses, and is asking for continued local support for renovations and staffing at its Jackson Road shelter.
Shona Teruza, executive director of Alpha House, told the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners that this winter’s weather-amnesty sheltering required far more space and staff than past seasons and that the nonprofit is pursuing state master-lease funding to house larger families.
"We hosted 47 families," Teruza said, summarizing the season that began Nov. 13. She told commissioners the shelter expanded family rooms, opened 14 additional rooms, and at the peak supported 55 individuals in the weather-amnesty program in addition to the regular shelter population. Teruza said the organization used a prior winter’s one-time county allocation of $125,000 for direct client assistance (security deposits, moving costs) and building upgrades to prepare for this winter’s surge.
Why it matters: The winter surge…
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