UHERO Home

Information about homelessness

Homelessness:
It's not what you think.

On average, between 2000-3000 people in Washtenaw County are homeless each year.

Among that number, over 1/3 are children.

That's the number of kids that attend an average Ann Arbor middle school.

Just think: That's a whole middle school full of homeless kids.

It may not look like much, but for some it's a dream...
It may not look like much, but for some it's a dream...
www.whalliance.org

Homeless People?
In Ann Arbor?
Where?

Being homeless doesn't mean that you have to live out on the street in a box.

---as a matter of fact---

Most of the homeless in Ann Arbor have some kind of temporary housing...

...however temporary and uncertain that dwelling may be.

The average cost for Washtenaw County renters is $793.

A person would need to earn $15/hour just to pay rent.


Who is Homeless?
There are all sorts of people in and around Ann Arbor that one would never guess were homeless. Many have jobs, support their families, shop at the grocery store, own their own vehicle, take walks around campus, etc. Many times, you would never even know that a certain individual was without a home.

Why is Anyone in Ann Arbor Homeless?
Being homeless in Ann Arbor is never "typical." It's both incorrect and disrespectful to label all homeless people as "drunks" or say that being homeless is "their fault." Homelessness can be the effect of a myriad of different things. Some people lose their jobs, others are driven out by family quarrels, some are trying to rebuild their lives after jail, and yet more are just enduring a rough period in their life. There is no "typical" reason to be homeless in Washtenaw County.

Who Is There to Help the Homeless?
Many wonderful organizations exist to help homeless people get on their feet. HERO of Washtenaw County (Homelessness Empowerment Relationship Organization) works hard to promote the empowerment of the homeless through workshops, seminars, and counseling to make the dream of a new home and lifestyle a reality. The Delonis Center, Habitat for Humanity, and Food Gatherers are a few other organizations that aid the Homeless in Washtenaw County.

What can I do?
University students can get involved and aid in the empowerment of Ann Arbor's homeless community through HERO's student partner, UHERO. We work through our parent organization to aide the homeless first hand and educate the public as to the harsh and atypical reality of homelessness in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County . Through activities such as food and clothing drives , fundraisers , empowerment sessions , educational events , and special events , UHERO works to break down stereotypes about homelessness and educate the public about the reality of homelessness in Washtenaw County.


SO... if you feel strongly about these issues facing our community, join us and learn more about what you can do to increase awareness and do your part to help some of the most vulnerable people in Ann Arbor. E-mail uhero@umich.edu to join our mailing list, or click "Get Involved" at the top of this site.


UHERO

Copyright 2007 | Site map | E-mail webmaster

UHERO Home