DETROIT – Michigan Department of Human Services will close its Wayne County district office in Lincoln Park at the close of business on Friday, April 21. Cases served through that office will be reassigned to the Fort Wayne District Office, located at 6534 W. Jefferson in Detroit, effective Monday, April 24.

DHS director Marianne Udow made the announcement today.

"This consolidation addresses budget realities and allows the department to maintain client service at an acceptable level," Udow said. "There will be no staff layoffs because of the office consolidation."

Prior to the office closure, Lincoln Park clients will receive letters telling them where their case has been reassigned and the address and phone number of their DHS specialist. In most cases clients will continue to have the same caseworker.

In January the Fort Wayne District Office managed cases for 14,434 recipients of Family Independence Program, Food Assistance, State Emergency Relief, State Disability Assistance and Energy Assistance programs. There were almost 28,000 Medicaid clients served through the office in January. Neither the Lincoln Park nor Fort Wayne Districts provide children’s protective services, adoption, foster care or related adult services.

Data published by Michigan Department of Human Services indicates Wayne County DHS served 355,011 clients in the five assistance programs and 425,415 Medicaid clients in January.