Ypsilanti Freighthouse

Justine Sedky from UMS discusses the April residency at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse with John Bommarito.

With daytime high temperatures in the 20’s, all too many residents are seeking a way to get out of the cold and find some basic necessities. WEMU’s John Stockwell made time to visit the daytime warming shelter at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse in Depot Town.

While the Ypsilanti Freighthouse serves as a daytime warming center, the only 24/7 shelter for unhoused members of the Ypsilanti community is the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor. and it has limited beds available. There is ongoing community discussion about the need for a shelter on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale that need and what's being done about it with Lindsay Calka. She's the managing director of Groundcover News, a publication giving voice to low-income residents.

The Ypsilanti Warming Center reopened Wednesday providing a free place to stay warm during the colder months. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Early voting for the August 6th primary election begins on Saturday across Michigan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority is looking to improve the Freighthouse space and a public area on Water Street. WEMU's Taylor Bowie has more.

Food and housing insecurity continue to grow in our community. For the unhoused, it is a constant struggle to stay warm and fed. That's where FedUp Ministries steps in. During the summer, it provides food to those in need with a mobile food truck, while in the winters, it visits area warming centers to provide food. Now, FedUp is providing its WashUp services with a mobile shower vehicle to provide hygiene and dignity to the unhoused. FedUp Ministries board president Tajalli Hodge joins Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale to discuss new services and the plan for more in the near future.

Today, those at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County are working to provide free meals to those in need over the holiday. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more.

The City of Ypsilanti aims to provide more after-hours warming shelter options. WEMU's Taylor Bowie has more.

The University Musical Society is bringing Detroit-based saxophonist Marcus Elliot and his seven-piece band to Ypsilanti this weekend. His upcoming concerts will be a celebration of Ypsilanti's history of being a refuge for Black Americans going all the way back to the 1830's. Elliot gives a preview of his performance in a conversation with WEMU's Michael Jewett.