Since its inception in 2018, the Family Emergency Motel Stay Program has been a crucial resource for families facing homelessness in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area.
Funded through a generous grant from the Masco Corporation, FEMS offers a temporary lifeline to families in crisis, providing them with a safe place to stay while they explore long-term housing solutions.
“So many families become homeless and feel like deer staring into the headlights, they panic and feel they need to get into a shelter, but the shelters are full, and they have nowhere to go," said David Goldbaum, program manager at FEMS.
This is when the program steps in to offer three nights of stay at a local motel: “One to get out of the emergency situation, one night to plan and think of what to do, and one night to get ready to do it.”
To qualify for FEMS, families must meet several key criteria.
At least one child under 18 must be enrolled in the public school system, and the family must be experiencing homelessness and actively seeking permanent housing. Families who have access to alternative living arrangements, such as staying with relatives or friends, are not eligible for assistance under this program.
Referrals to FEMS must come through a caseworker or liaison representative from the Ann Arbor Public School system, ensuring that the program reaches those in the greatest need. This program is specifically designed to assist families with children, as homelessness often looks different for families than for individuals.
"It’s all about the kids, really, and protecting the people who protect the kids," Goldbaum said. "Homelessness looks different for families, while because an individual would be on a street corner where people can see, families will hide to keep their kids safe.”
FEMS is dedicated to finding and helping these families, who are often less visible, but no less in need of support. In addition to temporary shelter, FEMS connects families to a range of services across Washtenaw County, offering ongoing support for those in need.
Several local organizations provide vital resources. At the Jimmy Hill Memorial House, or “The Purple House,” on Stone School Road, families can pick up a meal every other Sunday, or visit for self-serve showers and laundry.
The Mercy House on Huron Street offers a warm place to stay during the cold winter months with laundry and showers available to anyone who is in need. The Mercy House serves breakfast every Saturday, dinner every Monday and Wednesday, and often has donated clothing and produce to share.
On North Washington Street, the Hospitality House and Solidarity Hall is open on Mondays and Thursdays for meals, showers, laundry, peer-led organizing, and a food pantry.
Peace House Ypsilanti is a new service that serves weekly Sunday brunch and gives access to a free store, community garden, showers, laundry, food pantry, warming station, and a place for community members to meet and connect. These organizations all create a network of support to help families regain stability and hope as they work toward finding permanent housing solutions.
A key strength of the FEMS program is its flexibility.
“When there are more families, it's a bigger program, and when there’s less families, it’s a smaller program," Galdbaum said "The beauty of working with motel rooms is that we pay as we go, so we can be as big or as small as the community needs.”
Not only does the organization help families experiencing homelessness, but also helps the local motels with their high vacancy issues. Goldbaum pointed out that here in Washtenaw County, motels typically only fill around football games or move-in days but, the rest of the time, they are running at a lower capacity and can’t make ends meet. This means that motel prices are generally low, and many motels are happy to house families in need through FEMS.
While FEMS is primarily funded by the Masco Corporation’s grant, the program is seeking additional funding from the county’s healthcare budget.
"Homelessness is a public health issue, and it should be the county’s responsibility to help take care of it,” Goldbaum said.
Addressing homelessness in Washtenaw County is a complex challenge that requires collaboration among local organizations, government agencies, and community members. FEMS is just one part of the broader effort to combat homelessness.
Housing Access for Washtenaw County serves as the primary intake for individuals and families at risk of homelessness, while other local initiatives such as The Shelter Organization of Washtenaw County, The Washtenaw Housing Alliance, and A Home for Everyone: Blueprint to End Homelessness provide a wide array of supportive services to help families rebuild their lives.
While these efforts are crucial, they alone cannot solve the problem of homelessness in the area. This is where FEMS steps in—providing immediate shelter and support to families, helping them regain their footing and work toward a more stable, sustainable future.
“It’s a small program with a big footprint on the community," Goldbaum said.
In the calendar year of 2024, FEMS was able to provide sheltering to some extent to more than 70 families.
If you or someone you know is facing homelessness or is in need of assistance, there are resources available to help. The Family Emergency Motel Stay program, along with a variety of other organizations, is committed to providing families with the support they need during difficult times.
