COTS provides emergency shelter to 140 residents in it's Peterboro facility. These residents include the chronically homeless, victims of domestic violence, families, single adults and children. The average stay in this shelter is 55 days, and during their stay all residents will be participating in activities leading to housing stability and independence.

This project provides three prepared meals per day to 140 Emergency Shelter Program residents for one weekend.

Funds will be used towards costs associated with preparing and purchasing food, food related supplies, and the food itself. In addition, this project funds the two full time staff who purchase and prepare food and manage the volunteers that serve food to the shelter residents.

In this region there is an estimated 31,619 homeless count. About 53% of the homeless population in Michigan consists of adults and children in families. 67% of the homeless families are headed by women, many of whom are young women with young children. The average homeless child is 7 years old – 7,602 homeless children are under the age of 5 and another 7,311 are between the ages of 5 and 10.

Last fiscal year, COTS provided over 47,000 nights of emergency shelter to over 2,700 unduplicated individuals, and served 102,200 meals. Among COTS homeless clients are families with children, domestic violence survivors and their children, veterans, those with mental illness or chemical dependency, the chronically homeless, and single adults.

The demand for feeding and housing programs is expected to increase in Michigan. In July 2011, the Michigan Senate approved legislation to place a 48 month lifetime cap on welfare benefits. This two-bill package would end welfare benefits for approximately 12,700 Michigan families immediately and thousands more will follow. The legislation will result in the working poor losing much-needed food benefits and propel them into the ranks of the homeless.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

140 shelter guests have access to 3 meals a day for one weekend. There are 140 beds in the Emergency Shelter and the shelter consistently operates at capacity.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

420 lives will be indirectly impacted. This assumes an average of 3 relatives per shelter guest. Families of homeless individuals will receive peace of mind knowing that their loved ones will receive a well balanced diet. Additionally, employers, teachers, and case managers will benefit from the guests improved ability to focus on the task at hand, rather than where the next meal will come from.