The Severe Weather Network
Donation protected
Last year, there were 1,003 documented occurrences of homeless individuals in Livingston County, including 51 homeless veterans, and 445 homeless students. On any given day, there are approximately 100 homeless individuals in Livingston County, and we have NO designated emergency shelter and a lack of affordable housing.
We are aiming to do something about that.
The Severe Weather Network is a collaborative effort with the Salvation Army, the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA), and local churches. We partner with community organizations, agencies, and faith communities to provide emergency, overnight refuge on life-threatening nights during the winter months for individuals affected by homelessness AND we connect those individuals with community action agencies committed to transitioning them into affordable housing.
This is our third year providing these services. Since our program began, we have given refuge to nearly 50 individuals, and have seen dozens of our guests transitioned into stable housing. Due to the lack of any other emergency solution in Livingston County, the Severe Weather Network has saved various community agencies over $40,000 in hotel vouchers alone, freeing them to use their funds in the areas they need to.
Along with providing these services comes expenses. And they come in many forms. Perhaps one of our guests needs a decent change of clothes for a job interview. Or maybe they are in desperate need of a ride to even get to one of our facilities. Maybe they need a car repair, or just a little gas money. Maybe they need a rental unit since they've been evicted, or assistance with moving. The individual needs we run into on a day-to-day basis are too numerous to list.
We would love to see this program expand to fill the massive hole that currently exists in our community in terms of providing refuge to those who need it most. But we need your help to make that happen.
Thank you.
We are aiming to do something about that.
The Severe Weather Network is a collaborative effort with the Salvation Army, the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA), and local churches. We partner with community organizations, agencies, and faith communities to provide emergency, overnight refuge on life-threatening nights during the winter months for individuals affected by homelessness AND we connect those individuals with community action agencies committed to transitioning them into affordable housing.
This is our third year providing these services. Since our program began, we have given refuge to nearly 50 individuals, and have seen dozens of our guests transitioned into stable housing. Due to the lack of any other emergency solution in Livingston County, the Severe Weather Network has saved various community agencies over $40,000 in hotel vouchers alone, freeing them to use their funds in the areas they need to.
Along with providing these services comes expenses. And they come in many forms. Perhaps one of our guests needs a decent change of clothes for a job interview. Or maybe they are in desperate need of a ride to even get to one of our facilities. Maybe they need a car repair, or just a little gas money. Maybe they need a rental unit since they've been evicted, or assistance with moving. The individual needs we run into on a day-to-day basis are too numerous to list.
We would love to see this program expand to fill the massive hole that currently exists in our community in terms of providing refuge to those who need it most. But we need your help to make that happen.
Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chad Gibbons
Organizer
Genoa Township, MI
David Reed
Beneficiary
