DETROIT -- Shelters and agencies that help the homeless are expecting a flood of people as winter nears, the foreclosure crisis continues and businesses lay off more employees during the economic downturn.
From the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) to the Project Helping Hands and Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team, officials said they are trying to raise money for more space, but admit it is unlikely they will have more beds anytime soon. Some homeless people say they are worried because even before winter hits, they have trouble finding beds in shelters and some say the shelters aren't safe or clean enough.
Slightly more than a dozen homeless people were living in tents last month at Roosevelt Park in Detroit's historic Corktown neighborhood. Some said they've had trouble finding space in shelters -- a complaint that shelters and agencies predict will worsen as more people need help.
"It is easier to get into Harvard University than COTS," said Cheryl P. Johnson, chief executive of the coalition. "We stay full year-round."
Last month, police officials, concerned that the tent city denizens would eventually freeze to death, forced them to pack up and encouraged them to go to shelters that had available space. Detroit ordinances prohibit camping in city parks but do allow tents on special occasions, like the annual fireworks display, police said.
"It's hard when you ain't got nowhere to go," said Steen, who lost his job two years ago when the business moved to Canada. He formerly worked for a company that made leather products.
Project Helping Hands was there to take Steen and others evicted from the park to shelters that had space. But Steen and about 10 others declined the rides and instead said they would make their own way.
On any given day, COTS officials estimates that there are less than 2,000 spaces available for the more than 9,000 homeless in Detroit. Some of those 9,000 may be staying with relatives and friends, and the exact number of those is unknown, advocates said. The number of homeless people in Detroit has remained steady in the last year but the pressure to find space at shelters increases as temperatures drop, Johnson said.
While the weather has been balmy this week, temperatures are expected to drop into the 40s on Sunday.
That has people, such as Steen and buddy Ernie Russeau, traveling city parks, empty lots and vacant fields looking for a spot to call their own. They realize it is dangerous living this way and said they are hopeful that they can find jobs.
Russeau, 36, was released from prison in April. He acknowledged that he has a host of mental and medical problems. Russeau said he does not want to be homeless but cannot find work because of his criminal past and health problems.
"To society, an ex-con is one of the worst people," he said after taking down his tent. "A lot of places will not hire an ex-con. If I can't find some way to get out of this by winter, I will not make it through the winter."
The tents and other camping gear were donated by college students who saw the homeless sleeping on the ground at the park, Steen and Russeau said. The duo remained determined as they packed up.
"We understand that we are homeless," Steen said. "We are survivors. We are not gonna roll over and die."
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