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Detroit housing officials outline helpline, outreach and looming federal cuts as council presses for fixes
Summary
Housing & Revitalization Department and Homeless Action Network told City Council about the helpline, outreach and the continuum of care, and warned that federal shifts could cut about $23 million in permanent‑housing funding — a change officials said would make ending homelessness harder.
City housing officials told Detroit City Council they are coordinating a system of helpline intake, street outreach and rapid‑rehousing to move people from shelter into permanent housing — but cautioned the work depends on federal and local funding.
“All roads lead to this number,” said Candice Morgan, manager of the Homelessness Solutions team within the Housing & Revitalization Department, as she announced the Detroit Housing Resource Helpline, 1‑866‑313‑2520, and described intake, diversion and street‑outreach procedures.
Morgan and Tasha Gray, executive director of the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND), explained the city’s role in funding and coordinating shelters, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing under the HUD continuum of care. Gray said the Continuum of Care covers Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck and that HAND serves as the HMIS (data) lead and collaborative applicant for HUD competitive funds.
Gray and other speakers also presented recent counts and trends: the presenters said roughly 6,000 people experienced homelessness in 2022 and that the point‑in‑time totals were about 5,865 in 2024, with seniors and families comprising important subgroups. Officials warned, however, that federal priorities are changing and that the city could lose about $23,000,000 of funding that currently supports permanent housing; Gray said the city currently has about $34,000,000 invested in permanent housing initiatives.
Council members pressed staff on responsiveness to the helpline and on after‑hours coverage; HRD reported it is rolling out a ring‑group phone solution next week so the helpline number rings multiple phones to reduce missed calls and expedite callbacks. The council also asked about using ARPA funds, zoning for motel conversions, and whether analysis exists of union vs. nonunion wage differences among arena or service workers.
Julie Schneider, HRD director, said ARPA funds have been used to support helpline operations, diversion and case management and that HRD can provide a breakdown of ARPA‑funded expenses. Schneider also said rezoning or variances may be required to convert a motel to shelter or interim housing depending on the building’s current zoning.
On data and evaluation, staff said HRD is working with the Government Performance Lab at Harvard Kennedy School to pair helpline, Detroit Housing Services and HMIS data to identify early indicators of housing instability; that work is expected to yield initial results in early 2026.
What happens next: Council members asked for quarterly reports and follow‑up on the helpline rollout, contract performance for after‑hours services (including the Motor City Mission helpline contract referenced during public comment), and a budget breakout of ARPA and other funding supporting homelessness interventions.
