November 2019: Homeless Awareness Month

WHEREAS, last year, more than 65,000 citizens throughout Michigan experienced homelessness; and,

WHEREAS, 11,317 households with children were homeless in 2018, and the number of families affected by homelessness or are at-risk of having inadequate or unstable housing continues to be a significant community issue; and,

WHEREAS, the number of seniors, aged 55 and above, experiencing homelessness increased by 5 percent from 2016 to 2018 to 8,367; and,

WHEREAS, the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, as well as the governor-appointed Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Michigan Homeless Policy Council, are some of the many dedicated organizations in our state whose efforts continue to make a difference in the lives of many homeless citizens in our communities; and,

WHEREAS, the Campaign to End Homelessness and its many supporters helped bring about a 17 percent decrease from 2016 to 2018 in the number of youths aged 18-24 who were homeless;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 2019 as Homeless Awareness Month in Michigan.