Detroit’s high poverty level and housing challenges are well known to Detroiters. A new effort supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation is focused on making it easier for Detroiters to find the help they need.
In the city of Detroit, more than 33% live below the poverty level, with the median income at about $36,000. That’s according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Unfortunately, more than half of households with an annual income of $35,000 or below pay more than 30% of their household income on housing costs, Data Driven Detroit reports. When renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, they are considered rent burdened.
It’s clear that the need for affordable housing solutions is critical.
Detroit Housing Network
The Detroit Housing Network (DHN), managed by CHN Housing Partners, has a mission to create healthy neighborhoods and advance racial equity in our communities by increasing housing stability and affordable homeownership for Detroit residents.
Obstacles many Detroiters face include having funds to pay for a security deposit or other housing related costs and difficulty navigating the application process for assistance programs. Many are simply unaware of what options exist for assistance.
“DHN’s focus is helping people become housing-stable,” said Libby Palackdharry, DHN director of operations at CHN Housing Partners.
DHN, which is supported by $10 million from the Gilbert Family Foundation, is made up of some of the city’s most trusted housing leaders, advocates and service providers, including:
- U-SNAP-BAC.
- Jefferson East, Inc.
- Central Detroit Christian.
- Matrix Human Services.
- Wayne Metro Community Action Agency.
- MiWealth.
- Bridging Communities.
Together, these nonprofit organizations provide a robust support system for Detroit residents, which ultimately helps them find, understand and apply for the housing services they need. The network not only connects Detroiters with the necessary help but does so in a way that gets them to those services quickly.
“People often think they will be renters for the rest of their lives, but there are many resources available to support first-generation or low-income households that want to achieve homeownership,” said Palackdharry. “DHN members support Detroit residents on their homeownership journey.”
Comprehensive services for hopeful homeowners
DHN’s network of experienced nonprofit members step in to work with residents to find, understand and apply for the housing services they need, and assist them on their homeownership journey.
The network offers services that are specifically designed to educate and empower future homeowners, such as:
- One-on-one housing counseling. This includes personalized support for property taxes, home repair, homebuyer preparation and foreclosure prevention.
- Group workshops. These are educational sessions that focus on financial literacy, renter rights, asset protection and estate planning.
- Home maintenance and repair. This includes programs and services that provide pathways for homeowners to invest in and repair their homes
- Property tax assistance. Programs and services that provide solutions to high property tax bills and even property tax foreclosure
Through DHN’s network members, some people may be offered property tax assistance, as well.
“DHN members can support Detroiters who are facing a financial hardship and are at risk of either mortgage or property tax foreclosure and help residents navigate the complicated process,” Palackdharry said.
Support for the community
Since 1981, CHN has partnered with nonprofits and funders like the Gilbert Family Foundation, as well as government entities, financial institutions and other like-minded institutions to:
- Develop more than 7,100 homes.
- Create more than 3,200 new homeowners.
- Maintain more than 2,500 units.
- Serve more than 60,000 annually by improving housing stability and increasing access to homeownership opportunities.
CHN credits the Gilbert Family Foundation’s $10 million with helping create and scale DHN, as well as providing the capacity to onboard future programs and services over the next three years, all of which will help Detroiters reach their housing goals.
One of the most impactful outcomes of this investment is the enhancement of DHN’s ability to streamline workflows and share information among its members. The creation of a unified intake form allows residents to utilize multiple services.
For instance, the DHN Collaboration Portal -- a secure, web-based tool -- is integrated into the DHN Salesforce platform and connects Detroiters to a wide variety of housing programs and services in the community. This tool allows DHN members and collaboration partners to share client information efficiently and securely with the goal of removing barriers to entry for services.
“Every Detroiter deserves access to safe, stable and healthy housing, as part of their journey toward economic mobility and financial freedom,” said Gilbert Family Foundation Executive Director Laura Grannemann.
All services provided by the DHN are free of charge to those seeking assistance.
“We want DHN to be accessible to all Detroiters, so we encourage people to reach out to us in whatever way is easiest for them,” Palackdharry said. “Services can be accessed online at mydhn.org, by phone at 866-313-2520 or in person at a member location.”
To learn more about these services, residents can call 866-313-2520 and press #3 to speak to a housing specialist or visit DetroitHousingNetwork.org.