Mission
To address the housing and support services needs of individuals and families along the continuum of care from homelessness to permanent housing.
Vision
All individuals and families who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness in St. Clair County will have access to safe, decent, affordable housing and the resources and supports necessary to sustain it.
Workgroup Goals
- Provide community education and awareness regarding the issue of homelessness in St. Clair County.
- Work collaboratively to reduce the number of people struggling with homelessness in St. Clair County.
- Re-evaluate and update the St. Clair County Strategic Action Plan to End Homelessness to coordinate with various federal, state, and local requirements.
Identified Gap: There is an inadequate amount of affordable housing options for the number of families and individuals struggling with or at risk of homelessness, and the housing options are very limited.
2023 Collaborative Accomplishments
- November 15, 2022, the Workgroup held a virtual housing summit, titled, “From Homeless to Housed: Community Driven Solutions.” This event started with a keynote address from author Matthew Desmond, Ph.D., followed by a presentation with local data, video interviews of people with lived experiences, and ended with a panel discussion with community stakeholders. The recorded presentation can be found on the CSCB website.
- Annual Point in Time Count was conducted on January 25, 2023, and 133 people were identified as homeless: 92 adults, 41 children, and 23 families.
- For the first time, a summer Point in Time Count was conducted on July 26, 2023 and 184 people were identified as homeless: 150 adults, 34 children, and 29 families.
- The Housing Assistance Resource Agency (HARA) spent the remaining Federal COVID Relief funding allocated to St. Clair County.
- During FY ‘23 – The HARA screened 215 families, 287 Adults and 169 children, a total of 456. Also, the HARA fielded 1,275 calls from people who were homeless and 1,116 calls from people facing eviction.
- The 15th annual Community Resource Fair was held on May 10th and in-person at St. Clair County Community College. More than 300 people registered and visited with 66 different vendors. The committee has begun planning for the May 8, 2024 event.
- Emergency Solutions Grant award from MSHDA totaled $204,027 for FY ‘23, to be used for HARA supports, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and prevention efforts. The FY ‘24 allocation totaled $209,267, an increase of more than $5,000.
- The Workgroup finalized the 2022 Strategic Action Plan and developed and endorsed the new plan for 2023-2025.
Chair: Kathleen Swantek, Blue Water Developmental Housing, Inc.
Support Staff: SCC Hara & Vonda Willey, BWDH Interagency Service Team
2024 Meeting Calendar
2024 Housing & Support Services Committee Meeting Dates
Meetings are hybrid and held on the second Wednesday of every other month 1:30 – 3:00 pm.
- January 10, 2024
- March 13, 2024
- May 8, 2024
- July 10, 2024
- September 11, 2024
- November 13, 2024
Resources