SURVIVAL SHELTER
Hundreds of people are living on the streets in Kalamazoo County. To help them survive the elements, we are looking for donations of new or almost new tents.
- TENTS 4-6 PERSON TENTS.
- WE ALSO NEED TARPS TO HELP WEATHERPROOF THE TENTS AGAINST MOISTURE.
- WE NEED 12FT. BY 12 FT. AND 12 FT. BY 16FT. TARPS
TRANSITIONAL SHELTER
There are a few shelters. in Kalamazoo that provide a stepping stone from the streets into permanent housing.
Kalamazoo County estimates that 5,000 units of affordable housing are needed. At our current pace, this could take 10-15 years to achieve.
MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED EXPERIENCE:
- PTSD
- MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
- ESCAPING A VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP
- UNABLE TO PART WITH A PET
- UNABLE TO GIVE UP THEIR CAR AS A SOURCE OF INDEPENDENCE
- UNABLE TO SLEEP SEPARATE FROM THEIR PARTNER
Additionally, there are a multitude of reasons the unhoused population finds it difficult to engage with and live with large numbers of people who are residents in a shelter.