Noah Johnson Daily Press Community Action Homeless Program Manager Matalyn Thibeault, right, and Homeless Street Outreach Worker Kim Strom are working hard to help as many people struggling with homelessness as possible.

ESCANABA — The homeless population in the Upper Peninsula is growing, and local organizations are working to combat it.

According to the Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness (MCTEH), the Upper Peninsula experienced a rise in homeless individuals from 1,022 in 2022 to 1,204 in 2023, an 18 percent increase. The data is in line with the entire state, which saw a jump from 32,705 in 2022 to 33,226 in 2023, a two percent increase.

“While that increase is relatively small, it still reflects the fact that more people are falling into homelessness. Continued stress from the pandemic, changing economic conditions and an ever-growing lack of affordable housing remain the primary drivers of homelessness across the state,” according to the MCETH.

Currently, Delta County does not have a designated homeless shelter, which challenges local organizations such as the Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, and Community Action Agency.

Residents may remember Hope at the Inn (HATI), a nonprofit seasonal shelter that operated in the area for over 10 years. It was formerly under the umbrella of the Salvation Army.

Unfortunately, HATI is no longer operating due to a shortage of volunteers among other logistical issues, according to former HATI Coordinator Shannon Taylor.

Now, local organizations are working with limited resources to help a vulnerable portion of the population.

“We offer food assistance here and also administer federal funds for utilities and rent assistance to help prevent homelessness and keep people in their homes,” said Salvation Army Upper Peninsula Regional Coordinator Captain Doug Winters.

St. Vincent De Paul volunteers will assist with temporary motel housing and refer individuals to Community Action.

“If the individual is willing to go to Menominee where they have a homeless shelter, we try to facilitate that so they can go there, but they’re usually full,” said St. Vincent De Paul Vice President of Escanaba District Council Loretta DeChristopher.

Community Action in Escanaba is working to curb homelessness, and the organization’s leaders encourage people to contact them.

Community Action Homeless Program Manager Matalyn Thibeault and Homeless Street Outreach Worker Kim Strom want those struggling with homelessness to know there are resources available.

“The first thing that somebody needs to do if they’re facing homelessness is to call our hotline number,” Strom said.

After calling the number, the individual will receive a call back from a screening assessor who will determine the person’s eligibility through an assessment.

“They get this assessment, and then they referred over to me. The first thing that I do is verify their homelessness to make sure that we’re using our funding, you know, wisely, and then we’ll talk about their goals,” Strom explained.

From there, Strom and Thibeault can assist individuals with housing applications, rapid rehousing, temporary motel housing and more. Community Action even has a fund set aside for more minor expenses, such as getting an ID or a Social Security card.

While Community Action is there to help, Strom wants those who come for services to be realistic as resources are limited.

“Our priority is those who are literally homeless, which is category one: sleeping somewhere not meant for human habitation or a shelter,” Thibeault explained.

She explained that individuals sleeping in their cars is a typical example of category one, as vehicles are not meant for human habitation. Community Action also provides supplies such as gloves, tents, blankets, and more to those in need.

Strom talked about the stigma associated with getting help, saying some people are quick to pass judgment on those who are homeless, saying it’s their own fault and they should pursue resources in the area.

“It’s so much more complicated than that. There’s so many different stories, different situations that can happen to anyone,” Strom said.

Thibeault echoed Strom, saying that if housing is hard to find for those who can afford it, imagine the plight of those who are looking for a home but need assistance.

“I’ve had people that just (had) a stream of bad luck; losing a job and then losing the apartment (or) sometimes it’s health reasons,” Strom explained.

It’s hard to know exactly how many homeless people are in the community, as they tend to live in places not directly in the public’s view, typically in cars or even campers without utilities.

Community Action and St. Vincent De Paul both agreed that the county needs a homeless shelter.

“If somebody’s gonna build a homeless shelter, that would be absolutely wonderful,” DeChristopher said.

Community Action is located at 507 1st Avenue North in Escanaba and can be reached at (906) 786-7080. For those needing assistance, call the hotline at (906) 789-0545.

Community Action will be at Bay College on Friday for the inaugural Community Resource Fair. The free event is an opportunity to learn what the community is doing to help address the effects of poverty and homelessness and connect those who need it most to services. The event is possible thanks to the Southern Upper Peninsula Local Planning Body (SUPLPB) and the Delta Homeless Services Committee.

The event takes place on Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bay College Conference Room JHUC 952.

For more information, call (906) 786-7080 or email Strom at kstrom@mdscaa.org or Thibeault at mthibeault@mdscaa.org.