Detroit has introduced a 7-point plan to enhance its emergency response for residents experiencing homelessness.
The plan comes after the February 11th request from Mayor Duggan —one day after Darnell Currie Jr. and A’Millah Currie lost their lives.
1. Mandatory Site Visits for Families with Minor Children • When the Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM) receives a call from a family facing homelessness, an on-site visit by outreach workers will be required to better assess their situation.
2. Proactive Search for Families Living in Vehicles • The Detroit Police Department (DPD) and outreach teams will actively search for families sleeping in cars—particularly in parking garages and secluded areas.
3. 24/7 Housing Helpline Access • The Detroit Housing Resource Helpline will now operate 24/7, providing around-the-clock assistance for those in urgent need of shelter.
4. Doubling Drop-In Shelter Beds • The number of drop-in center beds will increase from 110 to 220 within the next 90 days to accommodate the anticipated rise in demand.
5. Expanded Night Outreach Teams • The city is adding a second nighttime outreach team (6 PM – 2 AM) to ensure better coverage during high-need hours.
6. Police Precincts as Safe Havens for Emergency Shelter • Since the city allowed unsheltered individuals to seek help at any Detroit police precinct, 25 individuals have already accessed shelter. • An additional 61 households have been transported to safe housing through police intervention.
7. Enhanced Street Outreach & Public Awareness • Many individuals facing homelessness lack access to traditional news and social media. • The city will expand public information efforts at high-traffic locations such as bus stops, gas stations, and community centers to ensure more people know about available resources.
Residents seeking housing assistance can call the Detroit Housing Resource Helpline at 866-313-2520.
