Detroit Housing Resources: Where to Start When You Need Housing Help

If You Need Emergency Shelter or Are Experiencing Homelessness

If you are in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park and need help because you are experiencing homelessness or need emergency shelter, the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine is a major starting point. The City of Detroit identifies the HelpLine as a central access point for housing-related assistance.

The Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine is 866-313-2520.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental-health or suicide crisis, call or text 988.

Calm Waters is independent housing, not an emergency shelter. If you need a safe place tonight, use the emergency-housing system while you continue working on longer-term housing options.

If You Are Staying With Friends or Family

Not everyone without stable housing is sleeping outside or in a shelter. Many people are staying temporarily with a relative, friend, partner, or someone else because they do not currently have housing of their own.

If that arrangement is ending, start looking for housing before the final day whenever possible. You can contact housing-resource systems, call 211, work with a housing navigator or caseworker if you have one, and submit a Calm Waters Housing Request if independent shared housing may fit what you need.

If You Are at Risk of Losing Your Housing

You do not have to wait until you are literally homeless to ask for help.

If you have received a notice, your current arrangement is ending, you are behind on housing costs, or you know you will need somewhere else to live soon, begin gathering the information that housing organizations may ask for.

Useful information can include your move-out date, identification, current income or payment source, contact information, household information when relevant, and any written notices related to your housing situation.

The earlier you start, the more time you may have to explore prevention assistance, independent housing, or another housing pathway.

Michigan 211 Can Help You Find Local Resources

Michigan 211 connects people with community resources across the state. You can dial 211 or call 844-875-9211.

211 may help you identify resources related to housing, food, utilities, transportation, benefits, legal assistance, and other needs. Programs and eligibility vary, so being connected to a resource does not guarantee that the program can provide assistance.

What Is a HARA?

Michigan uses Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies, often called HARAs, as part of its homelessness-response system. HARAs can serve as coordinated entry points for housing assessment, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, case management, and referrals to other housing or service organizations depending on the local system and program rules.

If you are experiencing homelessness or a serious housing crisis, a HARA may be an appropriate resource in addition to other local services.

Independent Shared Housing Is Another Housing Path

Independent shared housing is different from emergency shelter, assisted living, and clinical residential care.

Calm Waters provides nonmedical independent shared housing for adults who can manage their daily living independently. Shared housing can be useful for someone who is looking for a residential home environment and is comfortable sharing parts of a home with other residents.

Submitting a Housing Request allows Calm Waters to understand where you want to live, when you need to move, your room preference, and other information relevant to your housing search.

Information to Gather Before You Start Calling

Having basic information ready can make multiple housing conversations easier.

• Your full name and reliable contact information
• The city or area where you need housing
• Your target move-in date
• Whether you need emergency shelter or longer-term housing
• Your current income, benefits, or other payment source
• Your approximate housing budget
• Whether you are open to a shared bedroom
• Any housing-related accessibility needs
• Identification or documents you already have available

You may not need every item for every program. The goal is simply to avoid starting from zero every time you speak with another organization.

You Can Use More Than One Resource at the Same Time

Housing searches do not have to happen one organization at a time.

You might contact the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine, use Michigan 211, work with a caseworker, explore rental assistance, and submit an independent-housing request at the same time.

A Calm Waters Housing Request does not require you to stop looking elsewhere. Housing can change quickly, so continuing to pursue legitimate options can be important.

Where Calm Waters Fits

Calm Waters Independent Living focuses on nonmedical independent shared housing and housing navigation. It is not emergency shelter, assisted living, nursing care, treatment, detoxification, or a crisis service.

Calm Waters accepts housing requests and referral/navigation relationships across Michigan, while Calm Waters-operated housing is location-specific and must be verified before any housing offer.

Start With the Resource That Matches Your Situation

If you need emergency shelter tonight, begin with the emergency-housing system. If you are facing a future housing loss, begin prevention and housing-search work now. If you are looking for independent shared housing, a Calm Waters Housing Request may be one part of that search.

The important thing is to start with your current situation, not with the assumption that one organization is supposed to solve every part of the problem.