Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness And Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shelter leaders urge Oakland County to invest surplus in housing and homeless services
Summary
Nonprofit leaders and shelter staff urged the board to use the county's reported $291 million surplus to expand shelter capacity, raise frontline pay, and seed a housing trust fund; speakers requested specific allocations, including $10 million for affordable housing and $1 million to several local shelters.
During the second public comment period on Aug. 14, leaders and staff from local homelessness service providers asked the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to invest a portion of the county surplus in shelter operations, staffing and long-term affordable housing.
Speakers included Elizabeth Kelly, interim executive director at Hope Shelters, Taylor Eberhardt, director of programs for housing stability at Community Housing Network (CHN), Max Glick of Lighthouse, and others. Kelly said the county’s reported general fund balance of about $291 million should be used to create sustainable local support for shelters and housing: “How about $10,000,000 for affordable housing and an additional $1,000,000 going to each organization that runs shelters,” she said.
Speakers presented data and lived experience: Hope Shelters staff reported hundreds of guests served this year and routine capacity limits; CHN said it has leveraged $120 million and developed nearly 1,000 affordable homes in Michigan but lacks local operating supports to sustain services. Lighthouse described plans to break ground on a family shelter expansion this fall and urged county help for recruitment and retention of frontline staff.
Commissioners did not take an immediate vote on a dedicated appropriation during the meeting but several acknowledged the need and said budget discussions are forthcoming. Providers asked the board to prioritize investments in prevention, rapid rehousing and supportive services to reduce shelter stays and street homelessness.
