MAY 15, 2026 HEALTHCARE The business of healthcare There are many variables in the living equation for the formula of life. The solution to this formula is seen by the decisions we make that determine how we live our lives. Some of us just live life one day at a time in a passive state and make excuses for our poor decisions. Everywhere we go we witness the painful results in the lives of those who reside in a passive state of mind. This article is written to give hope to those who have a need for someone to come into their lives and walk beside them and gently guide them onto the road to a healthy lifestyle. With great pleasure and pride let me introduce you to Mr. Daniel VanAssche. I met Dan during the brutally harsh winter of 2025/26. I was living at the Robert J. Delonis Center where space was limited due to the overwhelming demand for a warm place to stay to avoid the life-threatening effects of being left out in the sub-zero temperatures that were all too common during our recent winter. My daily survival routine included visiting the warming centers that rotated throughout Washtenaw County. It was during one of those visits that I had the honor of meeting Dan. I was charging my phone and warming up to coffee and an abundance of delicious food donated by countless organizations and individuals who went above and beyond to make sure that I was safe, clothed and fed with enough to make it through the day. You can only imagine how your health can suffer when you are living every day in survival mode. Then I looked up and noticed a new face in the crowd. This unassuming man simply sat quietly among us and blended in and was HOSPITAL from last page help among the collective of unhoused. Please help us alleviate our burden of medical maltreatment and neglect from U-M Hospital. As I stated before on my own, this hospital mistreats or neglects unhoused, IF they don’t turn around and traffic them to random facilities outside of Ann Arbor. I look forward to seeing someone in court over this. I’m ready. I propose a petition to the city of Ann Arbor. Please allow funding for a medical facility for unhoused and low-income only. This city has multiple streams of resources for the unhoused, but no real solutions. NO housing without being allowed to remain homeless for up to two years per HAWC (Housing Access of Washtenaw County). (Editor’s note: This seems to have improved lately, for many.) No jobs that pay a living wage or allow for one employee to work more than one job, because the ever outwork me, and I will never quit.” Dan grew into a man with the heart of a lion and a work ethic that compels him to put in long hours and sleepless nights to get the job done. “After high school I applied to sevDAVID MITCHELL Groundcover vendor No. 661 welcome. During my walk to the free clothing closet I went past his table and introduced myself. We shook hands, then we sat together and enjoyed a cup of coffee and a life-changing conversation. Of course we talked about sports and the news of the day, you know, just anything to pass the time. Then our conversation elevated when we touched on topics directed to healthy living and how to make the transition from homelessness to living healthy, wealthy and wise. First things first, in order to be wealthy and wise, you have to be healthy. Then, like magic, we got down to business, and for the next half hour we exchanged information that led me to take aggressive action to improve my health and live a better life. Here's a little more about Dan. Born in Wyandotte, Mich., and raised in Taylor, Dan is a home-grown Metro Detroiter who grew up with all the toughness and strength that comes with living in the Motor City. Dan said, “I was raised to live by the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Dan went on to say, “I was never the biggest or the fastest, but nobody will eral colleges and landed at Eastern Michigan University.” Dan added, “My initial interest was to study criminology with the goal of pursuing a career in law enforcement.” While in Ypsilanti, Dan’s thirst for knowledge continued to grow. “I found myself taking business courses at Washtenaw Community College, and that is where I discovered my gift for helping people through the application of business principles for healthy living.” Dan soon found career success. “I was blessed to land a job at Quicken Loans, then Rocket Mortgage.” Dan’s love for people led him to perform as a top producer in underwriting. Working in the mortgage industry Dan watched his hard work reap the fruit of providing housing for his clients throughout the region. “I learned at an early age that no one wins in business working alone.” Dan went on to say, “All of my success came as a direct result of working together as part of a team. I believe success is measured by your ability to build healthy relationships by placing the needs of others before your own.” While our conversation led to a number of interpersonal discoveries, I found out that for the past five years Dan has focused his energy on building the business of the Diversity Insurance company. Dan told me, “My office is based in Saline, but my time and life are spent companies demand loyalty and open availability, even though it’s never enough hours. Join us in asking that the city of Ann Arbor, or the county of Washtenaw itself, provide us with our own medical center. All the resources for this collective are here. We need a hospital with better-trained and more compassionate staff and security. If that isn’t an option, move all the resources to another part of Michigan, like Oakland County, since U-M wants to displace us there anyway. We could just go have our meals and shelters over there. We could get our clothes and used filthy shoes from over there. We could go and have our fake interviews from employers and ghost job postings from over there. Then your medical case workers won’t have a job to do and your doctors and security staff can just show up and put forth any effort into their housed patients. Problem solved, right? Or we could try to solve the problem here. working among the people throughout the region.” Dan is an expert in helping people pay for healthcare. “I’m licensed and certified to provide my clients a complete portfolio that covers all insurance.” Dan takes the time to listen to and assess your needs. In the end you come away with a plan of action that is doable and affordable. My 30-minute introductory conversation with Dan led to meetings throughout Washtenaw County where we participated in the mutual exchange of ideas and information all directed to improving my health and quality of life. I now have an affordable insurance provider that allows me to receive a thorough dental examination, complete physical examination, an optical exam, and my own primary care physician. Talking with Dan literally changed my life. I just met with my primary care physician, Dr. Shahnoor Amin, MD, PhD, who attended The University of Illinois Medical School. Dr. Amin said, “Mr. Mitchell, you are in excellent health, just continue to exercise and manage your diet and you will be fine.” Wow, what a difference a friendly conversation can make. Now the warming centers are all closed for the season, but my new friend Daniel VanAssche is open for a conversation about the business of healthcare. I strongly encourage you to call Dan directly at 734-502-8666, or reach out to him through email to dvanassche@diversityins.com. This will be a conversation worth having. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7
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