NOVEMBER 29, 2024 HOMELESSNESS Ozone House expansion will mean more shelter for young people CYNTHIA PRICE Groundcover contributor At an open house November 19, Ozone House took attendees on tours of their Huron River Drive location. On entering a large upstairs room, visitors were shown a blueprint of an expanded emergency shelter for 18 to 24-yearolds. The project got underway on November 22. The festive open house focused on Ozone’s current achievements as well as its strategic plans. “Working to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness,“ Ozone was founded in 1969, established a transitional living center in the mid-1980s and runs a drop-in center on Hamilton Street in Ypsilanti. The organization moved to their current building in 2020; there they provide residential stays, case management, mental healthcare services, and education both for eventual job placement and in life skills, such as financial literacy. The young adults who reside there pay minimal rent and receive advice on how to afford it sustainably. They have a lot of autonomy, including decorating their own spaces, which Welcoming people in at the recent Ozone House open house are: (left to right) Board President Lee Meadows, Vice-President Liz Kolb, Executive Director Kellie Rutledge and Outreach Manager Jackson Greenstone. several residents showed off proudly at the open house. Every year, Ozone House assists about 2,160 people through their crisis line and 800 people with safe refuge, and provides over 4,000 hours of professional therapy and 20,800 hours of life skills training. They do over 10,600 bed nights annually, and 45 or more young people graduate from their workforce program. When completed, the emergency shelter will have about 20 beds. Funding was provided by a grant from Washtenaw County. Ozone House is still seeking funding for staffing and operations. But once up and running, it will expand the county’s capacity where it is sorely needed. The number for the Ozone House crisis line is 734-662-2222. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7
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