East Side Homeless Shelter at Arnett Street
Washtenaw County
Summary
A $30,000 sponsorship of a homelessness fundraiser sparked debate over whether sponsorships should be budgeted or awarded by RFP. Comm. Sanders argued the money could fund a poverty simulation or direct housing instead.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 6
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 21, 2026.
Impact analysis
$30,000 county expenditure for the event sponsorship.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network and families it serves.
If nothing is done, roughly 100 people could be turned away from the Delonis Center on freezing nights; hotel-adjacent neighborhoods also worry about neighborhood impacts.
Mentions & discussions (6)
Board of Commissioners Working Session - Oct 21, 2026
The Shelter Association wants the county to buy and build out the Arnett Street building in Ypsilanti as a second, year-round shelter for the east side, with recuperative care, transitional housing, and older-adult beds. Commissioners debated the timeline but also why the proposal jumped ahead of the Space Plan Committee process.
Board of Commissioners - Oct 7, 2026
A $30,000 sponsorship of a homelessness fundraiser sparked debate over whether sponsorships should be budgeted or awarded by RFP. Comm. Sanders argued the money could fund a poverty simulation or direct housing instead.
Board of Commissioners - Aug 5, 2026
The Board grew the 2026-27 winter sheltering plan to $2,355,560, added $100,000 for the Daytime Warming Center, and set aside at least $50,000 for western county homelessness — approved 9-0.
Board of Commissioners Working Session - Aug 5, 2026
The county's emergency shelter system is in trouble heading into winter: Delonis overflow capacity was cut to 52 by a building-code requirement, HUD competition puts about $3 million in local housing funding at risk, and last winter peaked at 242 people in one night. The task force wants roughly $1.5 million now and is floating buying a hotel as a long-term fix.
Board of Commissioners Working Session - Jul 1, 2026
Board of Commissioners - Feb 18, 2026
A Ypsilanti resident called for an emergency shelter on the east side of the county.
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