DETROIT – Cass Community Social Services on Detroit’s west side has long been a lifeline for many. However, some residents are now expressing multiple concerns about cleanliness and capacity.
They are reaching out to Local 4 for answers.
In August, one Detroit mom was without a home for months. After receiving a referral from police, she says she came to Cass Community Social Services’ drop-in shelter on Woodrow Wilson Street hoping for help.
She and her two kids walked through the doors and were eventually told to sit next to the men’s bathroom while they waited for a bed.
There were people everywhere and water on the ground, the mom, who asked not to be identified for safety concerns, said.
“It smelled like feces,” she said. “I have a son with autism, and as anybody knows, they are very attracted to water. Like, he doesn’t want to go swimming, but he loves a good puddle, and that’s what he saw that as.”
Local 4 spoke to Erica George, the center’s deputy director, and asked about the flooding.
“We immediately handled the situation,” George said. “There were no incidents that occurred. We handled the situation. A lot of it was due to backed-up drains, due to wipes and things being flushed down there.”
Kaina Grant was at the center a week and a half ago after also getting a referral.
She says the men’s bathroom isn’t her only cleanliness concern.
“There were no paper towels, so for me to even like wash up, in that way, she gave me a women’s pad and said to use it like that,” Grant said.
Grant and the mom both said their other main concern is the number of people left in the lobby or waiting area without a bed.
Local 4 was given several photos from Friday evening of the people in what’s called the drop-in center.
The mom of two says she wasn’t able to get a bed after weeks of being in that same area, so she and her kids slept in their car outside the building while they waited.
“Corner to corner. Literally corner to corner,” the mother said.
“Were there people sleeping in cars on site over the summer?” Local 4 asked George.
“We did have some people that would park outside and preferred to stay in a vehicle. However, that’s not what we promote,” George said.
George also said they are over capacity. She says they are licensed to house 185 people, with a 10-bed overflow.
“We have seen the numbers at 200 at times because the need is there,” George said.
“We’re given these resources, we’re told to call 211,” the mother said. “We’re doing that and this is where we are ending up. Like, the police, this is where they told me to go. I wouldn’t even send my dog here and I don’t even have one.”