Copyright M Live Michigan
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Shelters, churches and community centers in Washtenaw County are preparing for winter emergency sheltering and warming locations to launch Monday, Nov. 10. The program aims to give people facing homelessness access to warm shelter during the coldest months. The winter emergency shelter season will run through April 14, 2026, depending on weather conditions. The program includes daytime warming locations and overnight shelter beginning at 7 p.m. Daytime warming locations will be available Monday to Thursday throughout the season at the Freighthouse, 100 Marketplace in Ypsilanti. There will also be rotating locations in Ann Arbor, and weekend options are also available. For the latest shelter and warming location updates, residents can visit bit.ly/washtenaw-warming, as information may change based on weather and site availability. Currently, there are six daytime warming locations, and an additional site in Ann Arbor is expected to be added to the list. Those currently include the Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Friends Meeting, St. Mary’s Student Parish in Ann Arbor, First Congregational Church in Ann Arbor, First Baptist Church in Ann Arbor, and the Robert J. Delonis Center. For overnight shelter, contact Housing Access for Washtenaw County at 734-961-1999 for a referral. After 5 p.m. or on weekends, individuals can go directly to the Robert J. Delonis Center, 312 W. Huron St. in Ann Arbor or call 734-662-2829. Shelter guests receive meals, medical care, case management, and support connecting to permanent housing. All locations follow established health and safety protocols. In addition, specialized services are available for specific populations. Families can contact Alpha House at 734-822-0220. Youth and young adults under 25 years old can call Ozone House at 734-662-2222. Survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence can call SafeHouse Center at 734-995-5444. “These collaborative community services are made possible through a strong coalition of housing partners known as the Washtenaw County Continuum of Care (CoC),” Toni Kayumi, director of the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, said in a statement. The coalition includes the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, Alpha House, SafeHouse Center, Ozone House, Housing Access for Washtenaw County and nearly 30 local organizations dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. The work is also supported by the City of Ann Arbor, OCED, and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, which allocated $1.3 million to sustain the winter operations, according to the release.
