[This post is part of the monthly CEDAM Member News Roundup series. If you have news to share/an event to promote, send it our way or leave a message in the comments section at the bottom of this post.]
CEDAM members wrapped last year up with generosity and are now looking to start 2011 with new visions and services.
Community Housing Network ran a very successful Adopt-A-Family program. Thanks to everyone who participated, 427 individuals and families received holiday gifts. Read more and find a link to photos from the event here.
Volunteers at FOCUS: Hope in Detroit assembled boxes of food and delivered them to 700 metro area senior citizens on December 11th.
Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek (NIBC) announced it will be holding free financial fitness classes throughout 2011. All classes will be held in Battle Creek at the NIBC office; topics include developing and living on a budget, reducing debt, building and rebuilding credit, creating savings, and how to save for and qualify to purchase a house. More information and available dates are in this news announcement.
The South Oakland Shelter system based in Royal Oak is trying the ‘housing first’ (also known as rapid re-housing) approach to help homeless people. By addressing housing needs first and then offering services like job training, the average stay at the shelter has dropped from 4 months to 28 days. This article in the Detroit Free Press explains more about housing first in Michigan.
The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) released a sweeping new Michigan 50 Year Vision, including the areas of water, energy, transportation, sustainable communities, great cities, and agriculture & natural resources. MEC is looking for public input on the vision. Go here to read the vision, see comments, and make your own remarks.