County shelter operators report record winter demand; urge planning for east-side family site

Alpha House and the Shelter Association told the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 22 that demand for emergency shelter has surged this winter and that short-term measures are straining staff and capacity.

At a working-session update, Shona Teruza of Alpha House said the program converted office space into bedrooms and expanded from serving six families at a time to accommodating as many as 14 family units after renovations completed late in 2024. Teruza said Alpha House launched a winter “weather” program in November and, with county winter-shelter funding, hired four staff and three social-work interns to provide shelter, meals and case management for families that arrive through school liaisons, partner agencies and walk-ins.

“Over the past two months we’ve served 35 weather-amnesty families,” Teruza said. “Last night we hosted 73 individuals under our roof — up from about 20–23 per night this time last year.”

Dan Kelly, executive director of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, said the county’s coordinated winter response has expanded to as many as six sites at once and includes rotating church sites and hoteling when needed. Kelly said the shelter system is serving roughly 15% more people on a typical night than last winter, with peak nights above 200 people and a record around 210 on one night in December.

“We are seeing increases across the board and increased acuity,” Kelly said, noting a rise in adults over 55 with health complications and a disabled rate among people served that he placed near 72 percent. Kelly added that the shelter system has housed 35 people so far who came through winter programs and that case management remains the key to moving people into longer-term housing.

Commissioners pressed staff and operators about next steps and capacity. Several said the county should pursue an east-side site to reduce travel time for residents and to provide space better configured for families, particularly in Ypsilanti where many people seek services. Commissioners also discussed using county-owned buildings, the county space plan and potential purchases of property in Pittsfield or Ypsilanti townships.

Kelly and Teruza praised recent coordination with Community Mental Health and local hospitals, which provided hoteling for medically fragile clients during a cold snap and helped free shelter space. Both presenters urged continued flexible funding, stronger partnerships with municipalities and planning for how to transition families when temporary winter programs end in March.

Commissioners thanked the presenters and said they would continue exploring potential sites, funding and operational models that might include seasonal or year-round spaces and support for specialized services such as recuperative care for people discharged from hospitals.

The presentation and discussion were informational; no formal county action or vote was taken on shelter facilities during the session.