Detroit Friendship House

Detroit Friendship House

Detroit Friendship House is a faith-based non-profit that was established in Hamtramck in 1929 by the American Baptist denomination. Hamtramck boasts a rich history of diversity, serving as a gateway for immigrants into the U.S. Currently, over 90% of its population falls almost equally into 4 major ethnic groups: Arabic, Asian, Eastern European and African American. However, it also grapples with a long-standing issue of poverty, with approximately 43.1% of

Primarily operating as a food pantry, the Friendship House distributes an average of 40,000 pounds of food monthly to about 1,400 residents. They also provide nutrition education that teaches clients the link between poor nutrition and chronic diseases, and how to choose healthier foods. Friendship Houses has a motivational coach that works one-on-one with clients to help identify key barriers in their life and helps provide resources to overcome those barriers.

In addition, they provide ESL and Citizenship classes to immigrant women, a summer youth development program, a backpack give-away at the start of school, traditional holiday meals on Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas, and a toy distribution at Christmastime. 

With the generous support of the Michigan Community Center Grant Program, the Friendship House is poised to implement their Immigrant Women’s Health Program, aimed at uplifting the most vulnerable members of the diverse population – the immigrant women in Hamtramck. This program is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by immigrant women who are grappling with poverty, by equipping them with essential skills, tools, and support to pursue self-sufficiency and foster healthy lifestyles for themselves and their family.

The Friendship House has crafted a robust suite of programs to cater to the needs of the large population of immigrant women in Hamtramck, facilitating their full integration into the community. These initiatives are intended to empower these women with the knowledge and abilities necessary to mitigate the impact of poverty, promote healthy nutrition practices for themselves and their families, and instill the confidence to actively participate in community life in various capacities, whether it involves seeking employment, running for office, or finding support among a group of like-minded women.

• Motivational Coaching: Immigrant women will have the opportunity to work directly with the house’s coach to identify barriers keeping them in poverty and access the resources necessary to overcome them. This personalized support aims to empower women to take control of their circumstances and work toward self-sufficiency. 
• ESL and Citizenship Classes: The house is expanding their ESL and Citizenship classes to accommodate more participants. Research indicates that immigrants integrate more effectively into their new communities when provided with language support and citizenship education. These classes will equip women with language skills and knowledge needed to navigate and engage with society more effectively.  
• Mental Wellness Groups: The house will provide a safe and open space for women to focus on their wellness goals across all aspects of their lives. Led by a Counselor/Lecturer, these groups will enable participants to explore what wellness means to them and learn practical techniques and practices to enhance their mental, social, and emotional well-being.  
• “Women Only” Health Fair: This event will focus on women’s physical health care and self-care, covering a range of topics including pregnancy, menopause, heart disease, ovarian and breast cancers, as well as mental, social, and emotional health. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about self-care practices such as exercise, sleep, stress management, relationships, and setting boundaries. 

Through these initiatives, we aim to empower women to thrive in their new community, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being among all participants.