Community Connections
Washtenaw Housing Alliance Shared Housing Program
The Shared Housing Program connects individuals who have extra space in their homes with people in need of affordable housing. Washtenaw Housing Alliance (WHA) focuses on making thoughtful, compatible matches and provide ongoing support to both the home provider and the home seeker throughout the process.
WHA is especially looking to reach older adults, age 55 and up, who may be interested in opening their homes to a housemate for additional income, companionship, or support with daily tasks.
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
As of January 1, 2022, Washtenaw County residents who want substance use treatment support can call a 24/7 hotline, 734-544-3050, to receive an immediate screening, referral to a community-based provider, or guidance on how to get connected to services.
“Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, with its fully staffed 24/7 access line, is best positioned to serve as the new access point,” says James Colaianne, the chief executive officer at Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan (CMHPSM).
The switch aligns Washtenaw with the other regional counties overseen by the CMHPSM—Lenawee, Livingston, and Monroe—who all use their community mental health agency as the main access point for substance use disorder services.
For substance use disorder emergencies—such as an overdose or imminent danger—people should continue to call 911 for immediate professional help.
For all other needs, the 24/7 access line will connect callers to local, professional services. Residents can also call the access line with a broad range of questions, including how to help loved ones and how to navigate the county’s substance use treatment system.
Rising Hope for Housing Program
The City of Ann Arbor has directed funding to help Washtenaw County households who have housing choice vouchers and are justice-impacted to avoid eviction and improve housing stability and self-sufficiency. The pilot program for Rising Hope for Housing ran between July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024. Service providers making household referrals to the program must have applicant complete an application with a signed Release of Information. See below for application details and fillable referral form.
Rising Hope for Housing Program Flyer
Rising Hope for Housing Fillable Referral Form & ROI
For more information, contact Sharon Lapides at Washtenaw Housing Alliance (lapidess@washtenaw.org) or Weneshia Brand at AAHC (wrbrand@a2gov.org).
HUD Posts HOTMA Training for PH Residents and HCV Participants
On the HUD Exchange resources library webpage, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has posted a HOTMA training titled “What Does it Mean for Me? Part 2: Asset and Real Property Limitations," which explains to public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher program participants how the new HOTMA rules related to asset and real property limitations may affect their tenancy. The training is broken into five chapters:
- Overview
- How PHAs can apply the new rules
- Asset limitation
- Real property limitation
- Related resources for residents
Click here to find the links to the recording, slides, and transcript of the training.