Housing grants address Macomb County's homeless families

Thursday, May 14, 2009 | Source: metromode

The face of the homeless is changing in Macomb County, and $800,000 worth of federal grants are dealing with this issue.

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development gave the cash to the Macomb County Continuum of Care, which aids the county's homeless population. Five years ago that would have consisted of a middle-aged man self-medicating his mental problems.

"Now it's family after family, soccer moms and two-person families," says Carrie Fortune, a Continuum of Care coordinator for Macomb County. "They are all first-time homeless. It's absolutely our biggest need."

The money will help to renew leases in houses and apartments for county families and singles and will create another unit for chronic homeless people, the regulars at homeless shelters.

Source: Carrie Fortune, a Continuum of Care coordinator for Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke