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What we’re about

Welcome to the MISSION (Michigan Itinerant Shelter System Interdependent Out of Necessity) Volunteer MeetUp! Are you interested in aiding Washtenaw County, MI’s unhoused population? If so, you are in the right place. Feel free to join this group to stay up-to-date on volunteer opportunities and other happenings around the community.

What We’re About:

  • MISSION is a collaboration of the homed, recently/at-risk homed, and the homeless to work together to overcome barriers.
  • With MISSION’s network of hospitality houses, including Mercy House (Ann Arbor, MI), Purple House (Ann Arbor, MI), and Hospitality House (Ypsilanti, MI), people can come together and find resources to help fill the gaps that come with displacement. Some of MISSION’s resources include compassion, tents, food, a clean body, clean clothes, companionship, and occasional bus tokens. MISSION also helps to provide temporary emergency shelter to families experiencing homelessness.
  • MISSION has a long track record of service towards the unhoused! It was started by formerly unhoused individuals who once lived in a self-governed tent community. Thanks to generous donors, MISSION was able to create and run hospitality houses across Washtenaw County.
    It was also recently in the news for hosting the largest family sheltering initiative in Michigan.

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • New volunteers are welcome to volunteer at Mercy House on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Mercy House tasks generally involve food sorting, food preparation, and socialization, although there may be miscellaneous tasks like cleaning and sorting clothing. Above all, attending a Mercy House event will allow you to get to know MISSION, volunteers, and the unhoused in this community.
  • All volunteers and the public are welcome to attend any fundraising and community improvement events (some examples of these events may include helping with construction or clean-up at one of our Hospitality Houses). Anyone can also attend MISSION’s board meetings, which are open to the public (for the most part – occasionally there are private discussions).
  • Volunteers who have attended de-escalation and Weather Amnesty training are welcome to take on Weather Amnesty shifts at Purple House. Regular Weather Amnesty shifts will not be listed on this Meet-Up page, as they have an internal system and require previous experience, though training and informational events will be posted for anybody to attend.
  • After you have joined the MISSION community, if you would like to be more involved, we can work with you to help create a more personalized volunteering role. Examples of personalized volunteering roles that other volunteers have filled include Volunteer Coordinator for their related extracurricular groups, and Food Delivery Driver for unhoused parents and children in hotels. Please speak to a leader at Mercy House (Peggy Lynch, Caleb Poirier) to learn more about personalized volunteering roles.

Social Media and Links:

  • MISSION website: missiona2.org
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missionwashtenaw/

News Articles Including MISSION:

  • Click on Detroit, May 15th, 2020: Help those experiencing homelessness right now in Ann Arbor with these organizations (clickondetroit.com)
  • MLive, March 22nd, 2023: 90 homeless families are sheltered in Washtenaw County hotels. What’s next? - mlive.com
  • MLive, April 6th, 2023: In ‘state of crisis’, Washtenaw County puts $3M toward fighting evictions, homelessness - mlive.com

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Things to Know:

  • MISSION strives to create diverse and inclusive spaces.  Let’s take action for a better world together!
  • Please be aware that there is risk in volunteering.  In any volunteer situation, it is important to use situational awareness to keep yourself safe.  Take safety precautions (see some precautions below).  If there is anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, please reach out to an event contact.

Safety precautions and other considerations:

  • Consider leaving valuable items locked in your car.
  • If carrying a purse or phone on you, do not set it down.  Keep it on your person at all times.
  • Only do what feels comfortable to you.  If there is anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, please reach out to the event contact.
  • No one is obligated to give money or a ride to anyone who asks.
  • Avoid arguments or interpersonal fights if you are not comfortable with de-escalation.  If you are comfortable with de-escalation and know the individuals, you can attempt to calm the situation.  If you are uncomfortable at any time, feel free to invite another volunteer or organizer to help.  Police can be called if necessary.

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