© 2024 WEMU
Serving Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, MI
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Assisting The Homeless During The Holidays Stretches Non-Profits' Budgets

Brock9999
/
Wikimedia
Homelessness

The holidays are tough, but donations are needed to fund programs all year.

The holiday season poses unique challenges and opportunites for area non-profit organizations that assist the homeless. While most Washtenaw County residents celebrate the holidays at home or on vacation, area homeless still need places to stay.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County remains open for 75 residents and individuals who need to stay at the warming center. Executive Director of the association, Ellen Schulmeister, says government and private grants are important to this work, but the shelter needs donations to fund programs that also run year-round. Schulmeister says the association has "about a million dollars to raise every year" which is the biggest challenge the association faces.

With the end of the year in view, people often turn their gazes toward those in need, as well as looking at their tax bills.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.       

Like many, I first came to this area when I started school at the University of Michigan, then fell in love with the community and haven’t left. After graduating from U of M in the mid 1990’s I interned at WDET for several years, while also working a variety of jobs in Ann Arbor. Then in 1999 I joined the WEMU news team.