09/30/2025
If I had the chance to run for public office in Michigan, I wouldn’t waste a moment—my very first initiative would be bold, clear, and urgent: to end homelessness in Northern Michigan. Our neighbors deserve more than survival; they deserve dignity, stability, and hope. And here’s exactly how I plan to make it happen.
Ending Homelessness in Northern Michigan by 2026
A simple action plan
1. Work Together
Bring all the key groups to the same table—local governments, shelters, Goodwill Northern Michigan, housing agencies, schools, health providers, and churches. Create one shared list of every person experiencing homelessness so no one slips through the cracks.
2. Keep People Safe
Northern Michigan winters are long and dangerous. Shelters should stay open year-round, with motel rooms available in emergencies. Outreach teams should visit camps and rural areas daily to connect people to help quickly.
3. Focus on Housing First
Make housing the first step, not the last. That means:
Leasing apartments or hotels so people can move in right away.
Offering landlords extra support and security deposits to make renting easier.
Converting empty buildings into affordable apartments.
Once people are housed, connect them to services like job help, mental health care, and recovery programs.
4. Prevent New Homelessness
It’s easier to keep people housed than to rehouse them. Provide small amounts of emergency help—like paying a utility bill, rent support, or family mediation—to stop people from losing their housing. Work with schools to protect families and children at risk.
5. Secure Funding
Use a mix of federal, state, and local money plus private donations. Show progress each month so funders and the public see the impact.
6. Care for the Whole Person
Homelessness isn’t just about housing. Pair each person with a case manager and access to health care, recovery services, and job training. Stable housing makes all these other supports much more effective.
7. Stay Accountable
Publish monthly updates:
How many people entered homelessness.
How many people found housing.
How quickly people were placed.
How many stayed housed.
Celebrate progress and adjust when needed.
-------------------------------
What Success Will Look Like in 2026
No veteran or chronically homeless person waiting longer than a month for housing.
Families rehoused within 30 days.
Returns to homelessness under 10%.
Safe shelter available through every winter night.
