A disabled man who otherwise might be trying to survive on the street or seeking refuge in a shelter now lives in decent subsidized housing.

The home he had was a trailer on relatives’ property, but now he has his own place, thanks to assistance with rent; he also has medical benefits and is no longer dependent on his family.

This better outcome happened because of the work of Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM), which describes itself on its website as “a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people…[with] special emphasis … on those issues that affect survival needs of low-income people.”

LSEM further states that its “current priority is to keep people in decent, safe, and sanitary housing.”

Legal Services Lead Attorney Amy Meilink takes information from inquirer at recent Project Housing Connect event.

“We try to keep people from becoming homeless,” she said, “and so we take on tenant-landlord issues, evictions, mortgages, foreclosures, and bankruptcy.”

One common case which Legal Services deals with is the threat of eviction from subsidized housing. If a tenant is evicted for non-payment of rent, other benefits may be denied, further complicating an already dire situation.

To head off eviction and save the rent subsidy and so not jeopardize other benefits, Emily Richards, the other LSEM attorney serving Midland County, tries to work out an agreement between the tenant and management or the management’s attorney.

Sometimes the arrangement will be for a probationary period.

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Meilink, who has worked as an attorney for Legal Services for twenty years, commented on a recent change in the clientele who seek help from the non-profit law firm. “We’re seeing people we’ve never seen before,” she said.

The downturn in the economy, high unemployment, and the bursting of the housing bubble are all factors sending people who’ve never before had to ask for help to Legal Services.

Another factor is new limits set by the State of Michigan on cash assistance, which may be some peoples’ only income and thus put them at risk of homelessness.

For legal matters not related to housing and other survival issues, LSEM asks local attorneys to take them on pro bono, that is, at no charge. This is in keeping with the American Bar Association standard that its members offer at least 50 hours of free service per year to those of limited means.

LSEM’s current service region includes 14 Mid-Michigan Counties: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Tuscola. Offices are maintained in Flint, Saginaw, and Port Huron.

Until December 31, 2011, LSEM maintained an office in Midland at 148 E. Main St. Due to funding cuts the Midland office was forced to close. All Midland staff is now working out of the Saginaw office located at 320 S. Washington, Saginaw, MI, 48607. The number to call is now 1-800-322-4512.

Although the Midland office is no longer open, “We anticipate still meeting with clients in Midland through collaborative work with other agencies,” Meilink said.

Funding for LSEM comes through Legal Services Corporation, a conduit for Federal dollars, plus state and local grants, foundation support, and other contributions.

LSEM participates in Midland County Continuum of Care, a collaboration of 28 agencies working to prevent homelessness by providing housing-related services to those who are homeless or living in substandard housing.

LSEM’s website is: http://www.lsem-mi.org.

Sponsored by Midland County Continuum of Care, the one-day event attracted well over 200 people to Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church of Midland in mid-November.

Midland County Circuit Judge Jon Lauderbach serves soup at Project Housing Connect

Johnson drew special attention to some new aspects of the event, saying, “New this year were more direct services, including cholesterol screenings, bone density screenings and haircuts. These new direct services were a hit with those that attended.” 

Hidden Harvest worker hands out potatoes and other non-perishables

Young parents came, carrying infants, pushing strollers, or hanging on to toddlers. Older folks were there, too, some in wheel chairs. After registering they all filed into the spacious hall in quest of information and assistance and especially the free items awaiting them in the giveaway room.

They were welcomed by representatives from more than two dozen private and public social service agencies such as Midland Area Homes, The Open Door, Michigan Works, Midland Cancer Services, and Caring Network. Each agency was assigned to one of the booths which filled a large portion of the church’s Fellowship Hall.

In many instances those with a specific need could apply for assistance on the spot. By the end of the three-hour event Amy Meilink, lead attorney for Eastern Michigan Legal Services, had accumulated a stack of applications to take back to her office for processing.

Everyone who came was invited to a hearty lunch provided by the Open Door. Local elected officials were among the volunteers who took turns in the serving line. They included Circuit Judges Jon Lauderbach and Michael Beale, State Representative Jim Stamas, Midland County Commissioner Rose Marie McQuaid, and City of Midland Mayor Maureen Donker.

Hardly anyone who attended the event passed up the opportunity to visit the well-stocked giveaway room. They were rewarded for waiting patiently in line with armloads of free winter coats, shoes, clothing for both adults and children, bedding, personal care items, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies.

Not all of the good stuff was inside. Hidden Harvest’s big truck was parked on Larkin St. From its big rear door came ten pound sacks of potatoes and bags of other non-perishables.

Project Housing Connect was held in the middle of National Homeless Awareness Week, one week before the Thanksgiving holiday as a nationwide effort to promote awareness of hunger and homelessness.

Midland County Continuum of Care combines the efforts of 28 agencies to head off homelessness by providing housing-related services to those who are homeless or living in substandard housing.

One way to combat homelessness is to build and maintain decent housing for people who otherwise are priced out of the market.

That’s the role The Affordable Housing Alliance of Midland County has chosen to play in the fight to keep people decently sheltered.

Formed as a non-profit in 1997 with seed money from local foundations, the Alliance has built and operates four housing developments with a total of 95 two and three bedroom townhouses.

Each two-story townhouse comes with washer and dryer, stove and refrigerator, garbage disposal, dishwasher, window coverings, central air, basement, and play area for children.

Rent is based on Midland Median income ($66,800 for family of four in 2009). A two-bedroom home at 50% of median income rents for $510 per month plus utilities. At 30% of median income the rent is $299. Most tenants fall in the 30 percent category with the remainder in the 40-50 percent group, according to W. Roger Mikusek, executive director of the Alliance.

Seventy-percent of funding for building the Alliance’s projects flows through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) by way of federal tax credits set up by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Another ten to 15% is contributed by local foundations. The remaining ten to 15% comes from long term mortgages.

The Alliance is not assessed property taxes on its projects, but pays a percentage of rents in lieu of taxes through an arrangement referred to as PILOT (“payment in lieu of taxes”).

Potential renters must have a reasonable credit history, no police record, and may not smoke or keep pets in the rental units. Mikusek says the no smoking, no pets rule is strictly enforced along with a no-clutter, no-litter policy for the grounds around the townhouses. “We keep a sharp eye on our properties,” he said.

Two part-time maintenance workers and one part-time cleaning worker make sure standards are maintained.

Such diligence has not gone unnoticed. The Alliance’s Grove Street Commons property has won two Beautification Awards from the City of Midland’s Beautification Advisory Committee.

Asked whether the Housing Alliance competes for tenants with other local rental businesses, Mikusek said, “We’re not really competitors. The local rental market is very tight. Our relationship with the landlords is mostly good.”

He went on to say, “We could easily use another 50 to 60 housing units right now.”

Mikusek became involved with the Alliance, first as a board member, and then took on the part-time executive director job, having retired from a long career as a mortgage banker at Chemical Bank. “This is a way to give back,” he says.

From his office in the Strosacker Center at 220 W. Main St. in Midland he recalled a consciousness-raising experience from 40 years ago when his work took him to a trailer park in Midland County. “It was February. I saw a woman carrying a baby, stepping out of a trailer that had no door on it. There was just a rug hanging there to cover the opening.”

When asked about the situation, the woman told him that the landlord knew about it and promised to fix it, but had done nothing. In those days the Department of Social Services directly subsidized landlords. Thus the landlord received the subsidy regardless and had little incentive to fix anything or reduce the heating bill.

The Affordable Housing Alliance has come up with a far better way to address the housing needs of low income families, as demonstrated by its four properties, Grove Street Commons, Granite Club Acres, and Chippewassee Court I and II in Midland, and Coleman Apartments I and II in Coleman.

Inquiries may be directed to the the Alliance office at (989) 633-9910. Two clerical workers staff the office which is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Midland County Continuum of Care combines the efforts of 28 agencies to forestall homelessness by providing housing-related services to those who are homeless or living in substandard housing.

One response to the challenge is Project Homeless Connect, a one-day, one-stop event on Wednesday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Midland.

Sponsored by Midland County Continuum of Care and the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Project Homeless Connect will offer free lunch served by The Open Door, free winter outwear, free personal care items, and free take home food boxes of non-perishables from Hidden Harvest.

In addition, those who attend may avail themselves of housing information, quit smoking help, applications for Department of Human Services assistance, health screenings, and more.

Based on prior years’ experience, some 250 people are expected. Once in the door and registered, they will be directed to make face to face contact with the agencies in the service booths set up throughout the church.

Amanda Johnson, Housing Resource Specialist at Midland Area Homes and coordinator for Project Homeless Connect, has devised a scavenger hunt as a way to assure that those who come will visit the service booths of agencies that assist with utility payments, offer legal aid, or deal with housing and other needs. Individuals who make contact with at least five service booths and collect a star as evidence become eligible to enter the giveaway room to take advantage of the free items.

Johnson oversees the collecting of items for the event and recruits the 50 or more volunteers needed to set up and staff the service booths. She says, “We take over the entire church.”

Another inducement to participation is help with transportation. Dial-a-Ride and County Connection coupons are being distributed through the various agencies. The event is also being announced through postings at grocery stores and restaurants, door knob hangers at trailer parks, and at the Open Door.

As useful as the day may be to those in need of help, participating agencies also benefit. Sharon Mortensen, Executive Director of Shelterhouse, and chair of Midland County Continuum of Care, says, “It’s an opportunity to interface with the client base, a wonderful opportunity to connect.”

At any given time there are 200 to 300 homeless individuals in Midland County. Women with small children are among those most at risk.

“Homeless” includes all who lack stable housing, such as people sleeping on a friend or relative’s couch as well as those facing eviction, staying in a shelter, or wandering the streets. Someone with no identified place to live within seven days is considered homeless.

Thanks to Federal Stimulus Funds, the low income housing situation in Midland County has stabilized somewhat over the last couple of years, according to Sally York, Executive Director of Midland Area Homes.

She says, “The one-time infusion of funds has made it possible to house people we’ve not been able to work with before, including some chronically homeless.” Now that those funds have been exhausted York expects the numbers of homeless to go up again.

Midland County Continuum of Care combines the efforts of 28 agencies to forestall homelessness by providing housing-related services to those who are homeless or living in substandard housing.

Project Homeless Connect takes place in the middle of National Homeless Awareness Week, held one week before the Thanksgiving holiday as a nationwide effort to promote awareness of hunger and homelessness.

Have you run out of food? Do your kids need school clothes? Are you facing a shut-off of your electricity or fuel? Are you about to be evicted and don’t know where to turn?

Don’t call 911 or 411. Just dial 211, a free, confidential service.

When you call – day or night – a Certified Information and Referral Specialist (CIRS) will answer and direct you to one or more public or non-profit agencies which may be able to help with your specific need.

2-1-1 Northeast Michigan is one of eight call centers in Michigan providing information and referral services in Midland, Gladwin, Clare, Isabella, and Gratiot Counties. Next year the local 2-1-1 service expects to take in an additional 13 counties in northeast Michigan, according to Scott Redman, executive director of 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan.

In 2010 the phones at 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan rang almost 11,000 times. About ⅔ of the callers seek help with the basics – food, shelter, and utilities. The remaining ⅓ of inquiries covers a range of needs from auto repairs to bus fare to personal grooming supplies to dental care.

Amy Olson, one of two call specialists at 2-1-1, has been answering the phone for six years, beginning with her work at First Call for Help, a predecessor to 2-1-1 run by the United Way. A trained social worker, she ran a one-woman emergency services agency in West Virginia for 13 years before her husband’s job brought them to the Midland area.

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Olson reports that one of the most common current requests is for rent assistance, especially around the first of the month. The call specialists talk through options and direct callers to local resources such as Department of Human Services and churches. “Funding,” she says, “has been cut everywhere. Churches in Midland are very good at providing help, when other programs run out of funds.”

Requests for insulation, plastic sheeting, and skirting for mobile homes are also on the increase as fall approaches. The same is true of roof, floor, furnace, and water heater repairs and replacements.

Call specialists like Olson as a rule don’t know the outcome of their counsel, but occasionally have the satisfaction of hearing a caller say, “Thanks for talking me through the process. I now have places to try to get help.”

The referral center regularly seeks feedback from ten percent of those who call for help. Redman is happy to note that 98% of those who have used 2-1-1 would recommend the service to others.

2-1-1 Northeast Michigan has an agreement with Listening Ear, a partner agency in Mt. Pleasant, to take after hours calls. The arrangement, says Redman, provides seamless service and represents huge savings in overhead.

The local call center occupies a suite in the MidMichigan Innovation Center on East Ashman in Midland. From there Redman – a former Boy Scout executive – plus a resource manager, and two call specialists respond to calls from the present five counties.

2-1-1 Northeast Michigan is a 501c3 non-profit agency, funded by foundation, corporate, and United Way grants. Its modest budget is also helped by fees for service from the Department of Human Services and generous gift in kind donations. More information is available on the 2-1-1 website: www.211nemichigan.org.

2-1-1 Northeast Michigan works with almost 30 agencies in the Midland County Continuum of Care to provide services to the homeless or those in danger of losing safe, supportive, and affordable housing.

No matter where Midland County residents faced with homelessness turn to for help, they will soon find themselves at the local office of the Department of Human Services at 1509 Washington St. in Midland.

In most cases the Department can give no direct help, bound as it is by strict regulations. DHS does, however, serve as the primary screener for other local non-profit agencies which do assist with housing.

People applying for help must first complete the State of Michigan Emergency Relief Application. In most instances they won’t qualify, so DHS issues a letter of denial. The denial, however, is the necessary letter of introduction to assistance from other sources. Local non-profits, such as Midland Area Homes, the Salvation Army, and churches, require the letter of denial before they will consider lending aid with housing.

According to Andi Pellegrini, Community Resource Coordinator for DHS, “Housing assistance is the hardest thing to get approved.” The Department can provide the security deposit and the first month’s rent, but only if the family has enough income for ongoing housing costs. Moreover, the family must have received an eviction notice.

DHS does help with utility payments, food assistance, and Medicaid. Home owners or people buying a home may also receive limited help with repairs, such as a new roof or furnace.

Mark Stevens, Director of DHS for Midland and Isabella Counties, remarked on the impact of the downturn in the economy over the past 5 to 6 years on his department. He said, “There are a lot of people who’ve never been to us before. They don’t understand.”

Stevens noted that DHS caseworkers are extremely stretched, each having a caseload of more than 600 clients. “People facing eviction,” he said, “should not wait until the last minute. It takes up to ten days to process the State Emergency Relief Application.”

Limited resources, both in staff and funds, mean delays in obtaining timely aid. “It’s very frustrating,” Stevens said. “When they are most needed, our resources are the least, but we do what we can.”

The Department of Human Services works with almost 30 agencies in the the Midland County Continuum of Care to provide services to the homeless or those in danger of losing safe, supportive, and affordable housing. Pellegrini said, “Frequently we partner with other agencies. We offer what we can, and then ask others to help, too.”

Stevens called attention a valuable new resource, both for those in search of help and for those attempting to respond. “Dial 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan” is a one-stop service to connect people to hundreds of health and human service organizations. The database at “2-1-1” is constantly updated and available online with a few keystrokes. “2-1-1” will be the subject of a future article in this series.

Majors Matt and Malinda O'Neil

This is the fifth in a series of articles on agencies that participate in the Midland County Continuum of Care.

In Midland County’s mosaic of housing assistance, the Salvation Army has a clearly defined task — helping people stay in their homes.

“We try to prevent people from losing their housing,” Capt. MaLinda O’Neil said in an interview at the Salvation Army’s Midland Corp Community Center, 330 Waldo Ave.

Residents facing a financial setback such as a layoff or unforeseen emergency can get a boost if it looks like they can maintain themselves in their home afterward, O’Neil said.

In the current economy, however, many people are living in housing they simply can’t afford, O’Neil said, and those cases are referred elsewhere to consider more affordable options.

Moving is often emotionally difficult for people, O’Neil said. “People don’t want to leave their homes, and sometimes affordable housing is less desirable housing.”

The Midland Corps, with a staff of two caseworkers, covers one-time rent or mortgage payment for an average of six families a month.

The Corps also provides a one-time cash payment to cover utilities to about 80 families a month. In the current market, many local landlords may be reducing rents, but utility costs remain high. A family can reapply every 12 months for utility assistance.

Keeping people in their homes is important, O’Neil said, because loss of a home sends economic stress skyrocketing.

Even if they have an income, she said, they may have to exhaust their resources paying to live in a motel, or may overextend their welcome with friends and family. They may also be late for work or miss work because of transportation or other problems, she said.

“Problems like that can be avoided if we can prevent them from becoming homeless,” O’Neil said.
She and her husband, Capt. Matt O’Neil, are co-officers and pastors at Salvation Army, where they have been assigned since 2008, coming here from the Detroit area.

In addition to its housing mission, the Salvation Army runs a Community Center with drop-in recreation, classes, men’s and women’s fellowship and regular worship services.

The Midland Corp is one of almost 30 agencies in the Midland County Continuum of Care, a collaborative whose mission is to provide services to the homeless or those in danger of losing safe, supportive and affordable housing.

Collaborating agencies play different roles. For example, Open Door Ministries focuses on emergency shelter and rehabilitation for the homeless; Shelterhouse provides safe housing and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; Mid Michigan Community Action works in six counties to provide services ranging from weatherization and utility assistance to commodity food and pre-school.

Meanwhile, Midland Area Homes has emerged as the central intake point in Midland County for those with housing problems. It also provides assistance to home owners with minor repairs, collects and redistributes used furniture, and provides crisis rent assistance

Midland County Continuum of Care will coordinate another “point-in-time” survey of homelessness on Jan. 26. In the two most recent surveys, in January 2009 and 2010, about 327 homeless people were counted, an increase of almost 50 percent from a 2007 count.

Institutions likely to be providing services or having contact with the homeless, including churches, agencies, schools, law enforcement and state parks employees, will be asked to count homeless people with whom they have had contact during the week of the census. The process controls for duplications so individuals will only be counted once, even if they had contact with multiple agencies.

Sharon Mortensen, chair of Continuum of Care, said community awareness about the count is important to help develop the most accurate survey of the problem. Mortensen said the continuum believes surveys done so far have resulted in undercounting.

“This ‘point-in-time’ count is an important tool in identifying current need in Midland County and in leveraging grant monies to help in addressing homelessness,” Mortensen said.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority requires that local communities conduct the census.

A person is considered to be homeless who is living

–In places not meant for human habitation (such as a car or shed.)

–In an emergency shelter

–In transitional or supportive housing, with no identified future residence.

–In housing with an eviction notice within seven days of the survey date with no identified subsequent residence.

Those “couch surfing” or unsure of where they will sleep the night of the census are also considered homeless.

For more information or to report individuals who are homeless, contact Sharon Mortensen, Shelterhouse, 835-6771, or Sally York, Midland Area Homes, 496-9550.

Open Door’s men’s crisis shelter and soup kitchen is at 412 W. Buttles St. in Downtown Midland (Photo by Open Door)

With homelessness on the rise in Midland County, a volunteer organization offers a place to sleep and a meal when there’s no place else to go.

The Open Door Ministries which shelters homeless men in Downtown Midland and homeless women and children at an undisclosed location, provided more than 11,000 nights of crisis housing in 2009.

Hot, wholesome meals are available at the soup kitchen six days a week, Monday through Saturday from noon to 1:30 pm. The Open Door served more than 45,000 meals in 2009.

The idea is simple, says Kitchen Coordinator Sue LaBean. “Somebody has to take care of those people who need help. People need a shelter and food.”

With Midland County homeless counts up 50 percent from three years ago, more and more people are showing up at the non-denominational Christian ministry, putting strains on resources.

House of Mercy, the women’s shelter, turns away women almost daily, referring them to shelters in Bay City and Saginaw. Open Door men’s crisis shelter at 412 W. Buttles St. is often full, with cots pulled out to handle the overflow. A nearby men’s “restoration house” for longer-term transitional housing is at capacity.

Asked what Open Door needs to continue its work, LaBean, left, didn’t have to search for answers. “We need a bigger women’s house and a bigger restoration house,” she said. “And we need money to finance operations.”

Finances have improved lately, LaBean said, but a year ago the ministry was only a month away from scraping bottom on expenses. “Last August we had to go public, and the community really responded,” LaBean said.

Everyone who works at Open Door Ministries is a volunteer, including LaBean and resident advisers. It takes 500 to 800 volunteer hours a week to run the ministry.

Open Door started 35 years ago when a local church member began visiting jail inmates. Others joined him and soon set up a coffee house in the basement of Shorty’s Pool Hall on Main Street. “People could go for Christian fellowship, a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup,” LaBean said.

Eventually the need for a crisis shelter became clear, she said, and local churches formed an organization to provide one. A women’s shelter was the next expansion, then a clothing ministry.  The latest program expansion was a restoration ministry for men and women who are “committed to changing the things in their life that brought them to where they are,” LaBean said. 

Although new programs were added, no older ministries were dropped. Volunteers, for example, still visit the Midland County jail, as well as prisons at Freeland and St. Louis.

The crisis shelter on Buttles Street is open at 6 p.m. for walk-ins to stay the night. They have a room and can leave their belongings, but are expected to be out looking for work during the day, with a break for lunch in the soup kitchen. They can stay as long as 30 days, LaBean said, “except anybody making an effort can stay longer.”

The crisis shelter gives some the foothold they need to reestablish themselves. LaBean recalled one  woman whose husband lost his job with a local corporation. With the job went two cars and a nice house. “His wife was left with no car, no home, and eight children,”  LaBean said.

Shelter volunteers worked with the City of Midland to place the woman and her children in a house she could afford. Now she’s in school and working part-time. “She did nothing wrong and still became homeless” LaBean said.

With some others, however, the day’s mission is accomplished if the homeless are fed and housed for another night. Open Door  has “shelter hoppers,” LaBean said, men who will stay 30 days then move on to shelters in Saginaw or Bay City and then return to Midland.

“You’ve got to have a Christian outlook and a certain amount of patience,” said LaBean, who worked for 13 years certifying charity grants and conducting site visits for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church before she got involved at the Open Door.

“You’ve also got to know where the line is,” LaBean said. Open Door does not tolerate foul language, violence or being on the property under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The picture is different at House of Mercy, where women are pre-screened and restoration and crisis housing are provided in the same facility. Women stay at House of Mercy five to eight months, LaBean said, noting that it’s more difficult for women to find a job.

The soup kitchen demographics have changed in the last four years. In the past clients  came daily and the volunteers formed personal relationships with them. The number of meals served has increased about 11 percent with many new faces daily and an increase in young men between 18 and 25. LaBean attributes the change to large-scale demolition of low cost housing in the downtown area.

“Part of it is that many of our regulars don’t live down here anymore,” LaBean said. “Some people were here to eat lunch at the soup kitchen six days a week. Now they have to get here on a bike, walking or if they can afford it Dial-a-Ride, so they have to choose when and how often to come to the soup kitchen.”

Another change is that offers of part-time jobs for the homeless — shoveling snow, raking lawns — have dried up during the recession. “We seldom get a call anymore,” LaBean said.

Open Door Ministries is a non-profit corporation, managed by a volunteer board of directors. It specifically links its activities to Jesus’ ministry to the poor, the hungry, and outcasts of society.

“Some of our biggest success stories have come when people have gotten connected with a church,” LaBean said. “We don’t care which church. We’re non-denominational.”

More information is available at the ministry’s Website at https://sites.google.com/a/restorationhouseministries.org/opendoorministries/

A total of 229 people from 178 households attended the event, up from 161 people and 120 households in 2009. In all, help was given to 412 household members.

Sponsored by Continuum of Care and coordinated by Midland Area Homes, the event was designed as a one-day, one-stop gateway to help Midland County’s homeless residents and those at risk of losing their homes.

Twenty-eight agencies had representatives present to assist attendees. First United Methodist Churchmade its building available, Hidden Harvest provided food for attendees to take home, and Open Door provided lunch.

Many volunteer workers were present as well, and individuals and churches donated winter clothing and other items to give away.

Several elected officials took time from busy schedules to serve at the event: Midland Mayor Maureen Donker and City Council member J. Dee Brooks; Midland County Commissioners Rose Marie McQuaid and Richard Keenan; State Rep. Jim Stamas, and Circuit Court Judge Michael Beale.

The Midland Daily News and 360 Main Street publicized the event.

Sharon Mortensen, chair of Continuum of Care, said homelessness is a real and growing problem in Midland County. Homeless Connect, in its fourth year this year, is an important part of the struggle to prevent and alleviate the problem in all its forms, Mortensen said. She extended thanks to all who helped make this year’s event a success.