Impact Detroit Magazine Cedric the Entertainer Spring Issue | Página 8

WALKING
WITH H.A.N.D.
Homeless Action Network Detroit
With Tasha Gray
Since 1996, HAND has served as the lead entity
for the Continuum of Care for the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park and Michigan.
HAND works with a wide range of organizations
including service providers, community development organizations, local, state and federal government entities, to find and implement solutions
to homelessness in our community and to move
forward our 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Tasha Gray, executive director of HAND said, “We
work with about 70 Agencies and anyone providing Homeless Service Housing in the city of Detroit.
We help to coordinate them to get the resources that
are needed to provide housing. We provide training.
We’re really a planning and correlating body. We
have been a worked closely with the Development
of Permanent Supportive Housing for many years.
For example: The Bell building is owned by Neighbourhood Service Organization. They built 155 units
of permeant housing which got 155 homeless people off the streets of Detroit. Also, Piquette Square
- that’s Southwest Counselling & Housing Solutions
which helps Veterans. A hundred and fifty units of
housing got a 150 Veteran off the streets in Detroit.”
Over the course of a year HAND and their agencies
have served over 16,000 people. HAND brings in
about 28 million dollars to help homeless programs
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IMPACT DETROIT MAGAZINE

and impact housing in Detroit. HAND works with
HUD and the Michigan State Housing Development Authorities and the City of Detroit to make
sure those resources are received.
If you are looking to start a program here in Detroit to help the Homeless, you should first start by
attending a HAND meeting. They have 5 monthly
meetings and bring service providers together to
discuss the industry and best practices. All meeting are open to the public. Visit www.handdetroit.
org to find out about meetings. HAND welcomes
everyone and is a very approachable and friendly
organization.
HAND has an annual Walk. This is the 18th year
for the Walk which occurs to increase awareness
about homelessness and to let people know that
there are solutions to ending homelessness. Permanent housing is working well. HAND provides
housing and the services needed to sustain housing. If you know someone who is homeless and
you want to help them call 313-305-0311 for assistance in finding shelter.
Tamika also shared, “In our minds, we have this
image that all homeless people are thugs, standing
street corners holding signs that say, WILL WORK
FOR FOOD. I’m here to tell you that just is not