State representative Thomas Stallworth recently announced that he will be donating the remainder of children's hats and gloves from his recent giveaway to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, (DRMM).
"I am still very greatful to the private businesses that coordinated with me for the donation of hundreds of items of children's winter clothing to the Aisha Shule/W.E.B. Dubois Preparatory Academy and the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church," said Stallworth. "I wanted to ensure the excess went to deserving children in our community. Donating them to the DRMM, who provide outstanding services to families struggling with homelessness and substance abuse problems, I know that these items will help keep some of our children facing extraordinary circumstances stay warm this winter."
The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is one of the largest providers in the fight against homelessness and substance abuse in the country, and supports numerous shelters and community programs throughout Detroit and the state. Representative Stallworth also discussed how important the DRMM's work with substance abuse is to our community, and how pending legislation making individuals on assistance subject to drug testing will hurt struggling families.
"This Republican legislation treats our residents struggling with substance abuse problems as unworthy of our care and attention," said Stallworth. "We need to reorient our thinking so that substance abuse is considered a mental illness that requires medical attention, not a cold shoulder. A positive drug test is not a credible sign that a family, including children, doesn't need assistance. It's a sign that treatment services are needed also in order to move the family to self-sufficiency, and protect the children," stated Stallworth.
Detroit Rescue Mission has been a fixture in the city for 102 years helping the homeless. Each day they serve over 1,400 men, women and children.
Homelessness in Detroit
- In Detroit, there are over 18,000 homeless people in need of shelter on any given night. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is providing over 600 of them emergency, transitional and permanent housing each night.
- 30% of them are chronically homeless. 25% of them are children.
- Over 13,000 people live on the streets each night in abandoned buildings or "doubled up" with family or friends.
- Over 10,000 families in Wayne County will become homeless at least once during the next year. Over 4,000 households will be sheltered in a funded program.
- Families now constitute 49% of the number of homeless persons per year. (From DRMM website)
The DRMM annually provides:
- One million meals to the homeless and hungry which are served at eight facilities located throughout Detroit and Highland Park.
- More than 160,000 nights of emergency shelter for homeless men, women, and children.
- More than 75,000 clothing items provided to the needy from DRMM clothing bank.
- Transitional housing and substance abuse treatment for over 1,700 men and 850 women.
- Transitional housing to 12 teen mothers with children at our Genesis House I.
- A summer camping experience at our Wildwood Ranch located in Howell, MI for 1,000 inner-city children.
- Spiritual guidance and empowerment to more than 1,000 people daily.
- Recreation and prevention programs for 75 children in Highland Park and Detroit on a weekly basis throughout the year.
- Residential substance abuse treatment for 300 incarcerated men under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Wayne County Community Justice system.
- Inpatient substance abuse treatment and detoxification services for 1,300 addicted and uninsured men and women throughout Wayne County.
- Transitional Jobs, Case Management, Spiritual Mentoring, and Housing assistance for over 650 men and women returning to the community from prison.
- Specialized aftercare and housing to help the most vulnerable of clients maintain housing and sobriety. The program targets over 50 chronically homeless and mentally ill people who have completed substance abuse treatment and who need intense supports to maintain sobriety. (From DRMM website)
Representative Stallworth's commitment to the community, and the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry's aid to the homeless are serving to break the cycle of poverty, and deal with other issues that keep people trapped in a lifestyle very difficult to pull out of.
Detroit is experiencing a very difficult time right now with crime, unemployment, substance abuse, housing, blight, and people who are fast losing hope. If we can come together on these issues rather than point fingers at each other, Detroit can come back.
Currently Elected State Representative District 8, Party: Michigan Democratic Party, Email: info@thomasstallworth.com, Website: www.thomasstallworth.com, Phone: (313) 397-9366, Address: 18684 Whitcomb, Detroit, MI 48235
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If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug abuse/addiction problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland County residents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents). For those residing outside the State of Michigan, contact SAMHSA for assistance. For assistance with medical marijuana issues contact The Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification Center, or greentreesdetroit.com, phone number: (313) 967-9999, or (248) 677-2888.
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