Detroit declares cold-weather health emergency, opens expanded shelter and warming sites

DETROIT – The city of Detroit has expanded emergency standby shelters and respite locations to provide residents with safe, warm spaces during the ongoing extreme cold.

In partnership with Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Neighborhood Service Organization, and the Pope Francis Center, overnight stand-by shelter services will continue through Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12 p.m.

Residents seeking relief from the bitter cold may also visit Detroit recreation centers and public library branches during regular operating hours.

Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo has declared a cold-weather health emergency to support efforts to protect residents during severe winter conditions.

City officials are monitoring weather updates and will take necessary actions to keep residents safe.

Stand-by shelter locations include:

•  Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Stand-by Shelter location, 13130 Woodward Avenue, is operating through Sunday, Feb. 1, at noon. This site can accept families and single adults.  
• Pope Francis Center Stand-by Shelter location, 2915 W. Hancock, is operating through Sunday, Feb. 1, at noon. This site can only accept single adults.  
• The Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) Stand-by location at 882 Oakman Blvd is operating through Sunday, Feb. 1, at noon. 

Residents can access these shelters anytime by walking in—no referral needed—or by calling the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520, available 24/7.

Individuals sleeping outside or in cars who need immediate shelter after hours can visit a police precinct to connect with outreach teams for assistance.

Additional in-person Coordinated Access to Shelter (CAM) sites are available at Cass Community Social Services (12025 Woodrow Wilson) and NOAH at Central (23 E. Adams, second floor). More information is available at https://camdetroit.org/get-help/.

Detroit currently operates approximately 1,700 emergency shelter and drop-in center beds in partnership with local organizations.

Those facing housing crises or needing emergency shelter should call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520.

After 6 p.m. on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends, individuals sleeping outside can:

1. Call 866-313-2520 to connect with the Motor City Mitten Mission Street Outreach team.
2. Visit the nearest police station for outreach assistance.
3. Access temporary overnight stand-by shelters by walking in

Respite locations at Detroit recreation centers are open during regular business hours, including Adams-Butzel, A.B. Ford, Butzel Family Center, Chandler Park Fieldhouse, Clemente Recreation Center, Coleman Young Recreation Center, Crowell Recreation Center, Farwell Recreation Center, Heilmann Recreation Center, Helen Moore Community Center, Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, Kemeny Recreation Center, Lasky Recreation Center, Northwest Activities Center, and Patton Recreation Center.

All Detroit Public Library branches are also open during normal hours as warming centers, including the Main Library and branches such as Bowen, Campbell, Chandler Park, Chaney, Chase, Conely, Duffield, Elmwood Park, Franklin, Hubbard, Jefferson, Lincoln, Parkman, Redford, Sherwood Forest, and Wilder.

Additional resources include:

• Michigan Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-866-864-2338
• Mental health emergencies: call 9-8-8 or Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network Helpline at 1-800-241-4949

The Detroit Housing Services office and Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine assist residents with housing emergencies, including finding stable housing, financial help for moving costs, employment assistance, and property condition complaints.

Since opening, Detroit Housing Services has placed 5,168 residents in permanent housing and stabilized 764 households with temporary housing.

Residents at risk of homelessness or currently unhoused should call 866-313-2520 for assistance or street outreach.

For a map of respite locations, visit https://detroitmi.gov/respitelocations.

Respite Locations

The City of Detroit recreation centers and Detroit Public Library branches will operate as respite locations during the following days and hours.

Detroit Recreation Centers

All recreation centers are open as respite sites during regular business hours:

• Adams-Butzel, 10500 Lyndon, Detroit 48238  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.   
• A.B. Ford Community Center, 100 Lenox, Detroit 48215  Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, Detroit 48214  Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Closed Saturday    
• Chandler Park Fieldhouse, 12300 Chandler Park Drive, Detroit 48213  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.    
• Clemente Recreation Center, 2631 Bagley, Detroit 48216  Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Closed Saturday    
• Coleman Young Recreation Center, 2751 Robert Bradby Dr, Detroit 48207  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.    
• Crowell Recreation Center, 16630 Lahser, Detroit 48219  Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.    
• Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive, Detroit 48234  Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.     
• Heilmann Recreation Center, 19601 Brock, Detroit 48205  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Helen Moore Community Center, 11825 Dexter Blvd., Detroit 48206  Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   
• Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit 48206  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   
• Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit 48217  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.    
• Lasky Recreation Center, 13200 Fenelon, Detroit 48212  Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Closed Saturday  
• Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers, Detroit 48235  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  
• Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere, Detroit 48209  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  

Detroit Public Library Branches

Additionally, all Detroit Public Library branches are available during their normal operating hours for residents to stay warm. 

The Main Library is open Monday and Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday from noon – 8 p.m.; Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• Bowen Branch, 3648 W. Vernor Hwy.  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Campbell Branch, 8733 W. Vernor Hwy.  Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Chandler Park Branch, 12800 Harper  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Chaney Branch, 16101 Grand River Ave.  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Chase Branch, 17731 W. 7 Mile Rd.  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Conely Branch, 4600 Martin  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Duffield Branch, 2507 W. Grand Blvd.  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.   
• Elmwood Park Branch, 550 Chene  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Franklin Branch, 13651 E. McNichols  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Hubbard Branch, 12929 W. McNichols  Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Jefferson Branch, 12350 E. Outer Drive , Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Lincoln Branch, 1221 E. Seven Mile Road  Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Parkman Branch, 1766 Oakman Blvd.  Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Redford Branch, 21200 Grand River Ave.  Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    
• Sherwood Forest Branch, 7117 W. Seven Mile Road  Mon., Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. from noon – 8 p.m.    
• Wilder Branch, 7140 E. 7 Mile Rd.  Tues., Thurs. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Mon. & Wed. from noon – 8 p.m.