City of Detroit expands standby shelters, respite locations amid extreme cold temperatures

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

The extension runs through Monday, Feb. 2, at noon, in partnership with Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Neighborhood Service Organization, and the Pope Francis Center.

Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo declared a cold-weather health emergency to support efforts to protect residents during the severe winter conditions. City officials will continue monitoring weather updates and take necessary actions.

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Pope Francis Center, and Neighborhood Service Organization are operating overnight stand-by shelters.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries site at 13130 Woodward Avenue accepts families and single adults. The Pope Francis Center at 2915 W. Hancock and the Neighborhood Service Organization at 882 Oakman Blvd. serve only single adults.

Residents concerned about someone’s immediate safety in the cold should call 911 for a welfare check.

Access to overnight stand-by shelters is available anytime by walking in—no referral needed—or by calling the 24/7 Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520. After hours, individuals sleeping outside can also visit a police precinct to connect with outreach teams.

Additional in-person access is available at CAM sites: Cass Community Social Services at 12025 Woodrow Wilson and NOAH at Central, 23 E. Adams, second floor. More shelter information is available at https://camdetroit.org/get-help/.

The city currently operates about 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.

For after-hours shelter access (after 6 p.m. weekdays or 24/7 weekends), individuals sleeping outside or in cars can call 866-313-2520 to connect with the outreach team, visit the nearest police station, or walk into a temporary overnight standby shelter.

Respite locations include Detroit recreation centers and public library branches open during regular hours. Recreation centers across the city offer warm spaces with varied hours, and all Detroit Public Library branches are open to residents for warmth during their normal operating hours.

The article lists detailed hours and locations for recreation centers and library branches, ensuring residents know where to find relief from the cold.

Additional resources include Michigan’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-866-864-2338 for those in danger and mental health emergency support via 9-8-8 or Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network’s 24-Hour Helpline at 1-800-241-4949.

The Detroit Housing Services office and HelpLine provide resources beyond shelter, including assistance with housing applications, financial aid for moving costs, employment support, and property condition complaints. Since opening, DHS has placed over 5,000 residents in permanent housing and stabilized hundreds more.

Residents at risk of homelessness or currently unhoused are encouraged to call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520 for assistance or street outreach.

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

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.   
• 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.