A Sacred Network of Mutual Aid
Michigan
Resources & Refuge
"You are not alone. Whatever has brought you here, there is help across the Great Lakes State — from Detroit to Grand Rapids to the Upper Peninsula. Shelter, food, healing, and hands ready to hold yours. Begin wherever you need to."
Immediate Help in Michigan
Find Help Now
Real, currently operating resources across Michigan. Choose a path below — each holds verified shelters, programs, and organizations ready to help today.
The Sanctuary
Emergency shelter and a safe place to rest across Michigan.
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
City: Detroit
Services: Emergency shelter, transitional housing, addiction recovery, meals, and job training
Notes: 24/7 emergency shelter line: 313-993-6703. 24/7 addiction helpline: 313-263-0077.
Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
City: Detroit
Services: Emergency shelter, supportive housing, case management, job training, and financial literacy
Notes: Serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Detroit.
Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO)
City: Detroit
Services: Emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and the Tumaini Center 24/7 drop-in
Notes: The Tumaini Center is a round-the-clock engagement center for people on the street.
Mel Trotter Ministries
City: Grand Rapids
Services: Emergency shelter for men and women, meals, showers, on-site medical, day center, and housing support
Notes: Open 365 days. For first-time entry, call and press 1. Women are served in partnership with Dégagé Ministries.
Cass Community Social Services
City: Detroit
Services: Emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, and meals
Notes: A long-standing Detroit provider with wraparound services.
Coordinated Entry (CAM / 211)
City: Statewide
Services: The front door to shelter and housing programs — assessment and prioritization
Notes: In Detroit/Hamtramck/Highland Park, call CAM at 313-305-0311. Everywhere else in Michigan, dial 211.
Phone: Dial 211 · CAM 313-305-0311
Website: camdetroit.org
No safe place tonight? Call 211 anytime — they can connect you to the nearest open shelter bed across Michigan.
Bread of Life
Food banks, mobile pantries, and meals across Michigan.
Gleaners Community Food Bank
City: Detroit / SE Michigan
Services: Food distribution through partner pantries and programs across five counties
Notes: Call 866-GLEANER for help finding food near you.
Forgotten Harvest
City: Metro Detroit
Services: 200+ partner agencies and free mobile pantries across metro Detroit
Notes: Use the online food finder for daily mobile pantry locations. Community Choice Market (Oak Park): 248-268-7756.
Website: forgottenharvest.org/find-food
Food Bank Council of Michigan
City: Statewide
Services: Coordinates Michigan's network of regional food banks and partner pantries
Notes: Find the food bank serving your county through their site, or dial 211.
Website: fbcmich.org
Feeding America West Michigan
City: West & Northern Michigan
Services: Mobile food pantries and partner agencies across 40 counties
Notes: Serves western and northern Lower Michigan plus the U.P.
Website: feedwm.org
SNAP (Food Assistance) stretches further than any pantry — see The Providence to apply, and you can use a shelter as your address. Double Up Food Bucks doubles your produce dollars at participating stores.
The Healing Hand
Free and low-cost clinics, behavioral health, and care for people without stable housing.
Pope Francis Center
City: Detroit
Services: Daytime services plus a Bridge Housing Campus offering 90–120 days of shelter with medical respite, addiction, and job-readiness support
Notes: A welcoming day center for Detroit's most vulnerable.
Phone: 313-964-2823
Website: popefranciscenter.org
Catherine's Health Center
City: Grand Rapids
Services: Medical and dental care regardless of insurance or housing status
Notes: Serves the Heartside neighborhood and beyond on a sliding scale.
Website: catherineshc.org
Healthy Michigan Plan (Medicaid)
City: Statewide
Services: Free or low-cost health coverage — doctor, hospital, mental health, prescriptions
Notes: Many adults qualify by income. Apply any time through MI Bridges.
Website: newmibridges.michigan.gov
Community Health Centers (FQHCs)
City: Statewide
Services: Sliding-scale primary, dental, and behavioral health care regardless of ability to pay
Notes: Health centers serve every Michigan region. Dial 211 to find the nearest.
Phone: Dial 211
For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988 anytime — free, confidential, 24/7.
The Haven
Safe places to shelter from the cold, plus guidance on camping and parking in Michigan.
Warming Centers & Winter Overflow
City: Statewide (winter)
Services: Daytime warming centers and expanded shelter overflow on dangerously cold days
Notes: Michigan winters are severe — cities open warming centers seasonally. Dial 211 for the nearest open site.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Homeless Outreach Teams
City: Detroit, Grand Rapids & major cities
Services: Social workers and outreach staff who meet people outdoors and connect them to shelter and care
Notes: In Grand Rapids, the city's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) is reachable through 211. In Detroit, request outreach via 211 or CAM.
Phone: Dial 211
Camping & Vehicle Dwelling — Know Before You Stay
City: Statewide
Services: Guidance on where it is and isn't legal to sleep outdoors or in a vehicle
Notes: Rules vary by city and township and can change quickly. Before settling somewhere, check with local outreach or 211, and see Rights & Laws below.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Michigan winters can be deadly to sleep through unsheltered. If you have nowhere safe to go, please call 211 — they will find the nearest warming center or shelter bed right now.
Living Waters
Showers, laundry, restrooms, and personal-care access through day centers.
Dégagé Ministries
City: Grand Rapids
Services: Showers, meals, laundry, ID help, and the Open Door Women's Center (shelter for up to 100 women nightly)
Notes: A welcoming day center in the Heartside neighborhood. Open Door shelter opens 3pm–8pm.
Website: degageministries.org
Pope Francis Center
City: Detroit
Services: Day services including showers, meals, restrooms, laundry, and hygiene support
Notes: A daytime refuge for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Detroit.
Phone: 313-964-2823
Website: popefranciscenter.org
NSO Tumaini Center
City: Detroit
Services: 24/7 drop-in engagement center with restrooms, basic needs, and connection to services
Notes: Operated by Neighborhood Service Organization. Open around the clock.
Phone: 313-961-4890
Website: nso-mi.org
Mel Trotter Day Center
City: Grand Rapids
Services: Showers, laundry, meals, and access to case management for guests
Notes: See The Sanctuary for full details.
Phone: 616-454-8249
Website: meltrotter.org
Hygiene and laundry access shifts by location and season. 211 keeps the most current list of open day centers near you.
The Guardian
Free civil legal aid — your rights around housing, eviction, benefits, and safety.
Michigan Legal Help
City: Statewide
Services: Free self-help legal tools, do-it-yourself forms, and a Guide to Legal Help to find your local legal-aid office
Notes: The best starting point for any civil legal issue in Michigan — eviction, benefits, family, and more.
Website: michiganlegalhelp.org
Lakeshore Legal Aid — CALL
City: Statewide hotline
Services: Free civil legal aid by phone — eviction, leases, landlord/tenant, foreclosure, benefits, and DV
Notes: Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (CALL). Apply by phone or online; expect a callback from a 248 number.
Phone: 1-888-783-8190
Website: lakeshorelegalaid.org
United Community Housing Coalition
City: Detroit
Services: Eviction and foreclosure prevention, tenant-landlord help, and housing relocation
Notes: Detroit Eviction Defense Hotline: 313-725-4646. Tax Foreclosure Hotline: 313-405-7726.
Fair Housing Center of Metro Detroit
City: Metro Detroit
Services: Help filing complaints about suspected housing discrimination
Notes: Protects your right to housing free of discrimination.
Phone: 313-579-3247
Website: fairhousingdetroit.org
Facing eviction? Don't wait for the court date — contact legal aid as soon as you receive a notice. You have a right to a hearing before you can be removed.
The Providence
Government benefits — food, health coverage, cash assistance, and emergency help.
MDHHS / MI Bridges
City: Statewide
Services: Food Assistance (SNAP), cash assistance, Medicaid, and State Emergency Relief — all in one application
Notes: Apply at newmibridges.michigan.gov. You do NOT need a permanent address — list a shelter, church, or trusted friend. Expedited food help within 7 days.
Phone: 844-799-9876 (MI Bridges)
Website: newmibridges.michigan.gov
State Emergency Relief (SER)
City: Statewide
Services: Emergency help with rent, utilities, heat, and home repairs to prevent a crisis
Notes: Apply through MI Bridges or your local MDHHS office. Available all year. Decisions take about 10 days.
Website: MI Bridges
Social Security Administration
City: Statewide
Services: SSI and SSDI disability benefits, retirement, and survivor benefits
Notes: You can apply without a permanent address. Ask about expedited SSI if you're homeless.
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Website: ssa.gov
Michigan 211
City: Statewide
Services: Free, confidential help finding any benefit, program, or service in Michigan
Notes: Available 24/7. Connects you to local, state, and federal resources.
Phone: Dial 211
Website: mi211.org
If MDHHS denies or wrongly cuts your benefits, you have the right to a hearing — the Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (see The Guardian) can help you appeal for free.
The Shepherd
Faith-based and community organizations offering food, shelter, and warm support.
Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
City: Metro Detroit
Services: Food (the Mercy Market), emergency assistance, counseling, and family support
Notes: Help is offered to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Website: ccsem.org
The Salvation Army of Michigan
City: Statewide
Services: Food pantries, emergency assistance, shelter, and seasonal support
Notes: Eastern and Western Michigan divisions. Find your local corps through 211.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
City: Detroit
Services: Faith-based emergency shelter, meals, recovery, and job training
Notes: See The Sanctuary for full details. 24/7 line: 313-993-6703.
Website: drmm.org
Mel Trotter Ministries
City: Grand Rapids
Services: Faith-based emergency shelter, meals, showers, and recovery support
Notes: See The Sanctuary for full details. All are welcome.
Website: meltrotter.org
Many Michigan congregations quietly help neighbors beyond what's listed here. If you have a home church, ask — and 211 can connect you to faith-based aid near you.
Know Where You Stand
Michigan Rights & Laws
A plain-language look at the laws that affect people experiencing homelessness in Michigan.
Food Assistance Without an Address
You do not need a permanent address to get Food Assistance (SNAP) in Michigan. If you stay at a shelter, you can list it as your address.
You can pick up your Bridge Card at MDHHS or have it mailed to a shelter, church, or trusted friend. You qualify even if you have no place to cook.
Homeless applicants often qualify for expedited benefits within 7 days. Apply at MI Bridges.
State Emergency Relief
Michigan's State Emergency Relief (SER) program can help with rent, utilities, heat, and home repairs when you face a crisis.
Apply through MI Bridges or your local MDHHS office. SER is available all year, and decisions usually come within about 10 days.
If you're denied or the amount seems wrong, you have a right to a hearing — free legal aid can help you appeal.
Camping & Public Space
In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson that cities may enforce anti-camping rules even when shelter beds are full.
Michigan has no single statewide camping law — rules are set by each city and township, and some clear encampments on short notice.
Before settling in one place, check local ordinances or ask outreach workers. If your belongings are taken during a cleanup, contact legal aid.
Tenant Protections & Eviction Help
A Michigan landlord cannot remove you without going through the court. You have the right to notice and a hearing.
- "Self-help" evictions (lockouts, removing belongings) are illegal
- You have a right to a hearing before eviction
- SER funds can stop an eviction by covering overdue rent
- Free eviction defense is available through legal aid and CALL
Across the Great Lakes State
Help by Region
Resources reach across Michigan. Here's where to start in some of the larger communities.
Metro Detroit
Wayne County
Detroit Rescue Mission, COTS, NSO, Cass Community, Gleaners, Forgotten Harvest, Pope Francis Center, and UCHC.
Start: CAM 313-305-0311 or dial 211.
Grand Rapids & West Michigan
Kent County
Mel Trotter Ministries, Dégagé Ministries, Covenant House Michigan, Catherine's Health Center, and Feeding America West Michigan.
Start: Mel Trotter 616-454-8249 or dial 211.
Flint & Genesee
Genesee County
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee, Hamilton Community Health Network, and regional shelters and pantries.
Start: Dial 211 for shelter and food.
Lansing & the Capital Area
Ingham County
City Rescue Mission of Lansing, MDHHS offices, Legal Services of South Central Michigan, and food pantries.
Start: Dial 211 or apply at MI Bridges.
Kalamazoo & Southwest
Kalamazoo County
Ministry with Community day center, Gospel Mission, regional health centers, and food pantries.
Start: Dial 211 for the nearest shelter and pantry.
Northern Michigan & the U.P.
Upper & Northern Lower Peninsula
Regional community mental health, Feeding America West Michigan mobile pantries, and county MDHHS offices.
Start: Dial 211 — it covers every Michigan ZIP code.
Pathways Forward
Michigan Programs
Larger state initiatives that move people from crisis toward stable housing.
Coordinated Entry
Through: Each region's Continuum of Care
Helps with: A single assessment that prioritizes you for available shelter and housing across your community.
Start: Detroit area via CAM (313-305-0311); elsewhere via 211.
State Emergency Relief (SER)
Through: MDHHS / MI Bridges
Helps with: Emergency funds for rent, utilities, heat, and home repairs to prevent homelessness.
Start: Apply at newmibridges.michigan.gov or your local MDHHS office.
MSHDA Housing Assistance
Through: Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Helps with: Housing Choice Vouchers, homeless assistance, and homeownership support for income-eligible residents.
Start: Ask a shelter case manager or dial 211 for MSHDA programs near you.
Find Help Near You
Resource Map
An interactive map of Michigan resources is on its way as the Network grows.
Interactive Map — Coming Soon
Soon this map will plot shelters, food, clinics, hygiene sites, and warming centers near your location across Michigan.
Until then, dial 211 anytime for live, location-based help — or choose a city to be pointed in the right direction.
The Network Grows
Angel Outreach in Michigan
Beyond these public resources, the Angel Network is preparing its own offerings for people in need across Michigan.
Angel Offerings — Gathering
As angels gather and The Chalice fills, Hope & Grace will extend direct blessings, partner outreach, and community support to souls right here in Michigan.
These offerings will appear here as the Network grows. If you are in need today, please request a blessing — and lean on the verified resources above in the meantime.
You Are Not Alone
However You Arrived Here
Whether you need shelter tonight or hope to one day become an angel for someone else — there is a place for you in this Network.