DETROIT (WWJ) -- In a continued effort to provide housing assistance to residents, city officials, along with funding partners, announced an exciting new HelpLine for the Detroit Housing Network.
Rather than navigating through a complex web of phone menus, websites and paperwork, the HelpLine will allow homeowners, homebuyers and renters to access a wide variety of assistance programs by calling a single number -- 866-313-2520.
The program was spearheaded by Mayor Duggan's office and the Housing Revitalization Department and made possible by a $10 million investment from the Gilbert Family Foundation as well as support from the Wayne Metro Community Action Agency and CHN Housing Partners.
"The City and its partners offer a lot of great services to help Detroiters with their housing needs, but they don’t mean much if people don’t know how to access them," said Mayor Mike Duggan.
"Thanks to the efforts of our partners and the generous support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, we now have a simple process to guide residents to the right housing resource and a growing number of programs to help them."
Through the HelpLine, homeowners and homebuyers can access an array of resources, including property tax assistance, foreclosure counseling, home repair services and homebuyer education. Renters can connect with legal services for help with evictions and reporting poor rental conditions. More general programs, including financial counseling and employment assistance, can also be reached through the hotline.
Related
The HelpLine will be staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. When a resident calls 866-313-2520, they will speak directly with a member of the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine.
With the information obtained through the HelpLine, Detroiters will be connected to each resource they qualify for and the organization providing it.
Creation of the hotline was a part of the $203 million affordable housing plan announced last year by Mayor Duggan, along with Detroit City Council members Mary Waters, Angela Whitfield Calloway, Latisha Johnson and Gabriella Santiago-Romero.
The Gilbert Family Foundation investment will be used to scale existing Detroit Housing Network programs and add new services in the future, enabling Detroiters to reach their housing goals.
As new resources for renters, homeowners, and homebuyers are made available in Detroit, residents will be able to use the HelpLine to secure them instead of navigating complicated websites, phone calls and paperwork on their own.
"Every Detroiter deserves access to safe, stable and healthy housing as part of their journey toward economic mobility and financial freedom," said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of the Gilbert Family Foundation.
Additional support will come from CHN Housing Partners, who plan to provide ongoing training and marketing resources to Detroit Housing Network members, improving service and increasing the network's capacity to assist residents.
More information about the Detroit Housing Network and their current offerings is available on their website.
Related
