Street outreach involves bringing resources to end homelessness directly to the streets. Providing this service in rural Northern Michigan includes to the woods. People live near rivers, lakes, in swamps, and in the woods. This week brought me deep into the woods. This week I tweeted a picture and comment “Outreaching where the bears live.” Dealing with wildlife of all kinds is a reality for people experiencing homelessness in the woods, this includes bears.

You might be wondering what resources you can bring to end homelessness in the woods. Well, we bring the same resources to end homelessness to the woods that you bring to people experiencing homelessness anywhere: access and ongoing connection to housing resources, community resource information, assistance with and advocacy for shelter stays, income supports, and guidance through the systems that exit to provide these things.

Access to housing resources includes assessing for vulnerability, virtual access points as part of the homelessness response system, housing subsidy application, assistance applying for housing, housing search, moving in, etc. Staying connected to housing waitlists is very important. Failing to reply or meet verification requirements by the due date can mean a person experiencing homelessness loses their spot on the waitlist or loses their housing opportunity. Providing storage for important verification documents is also a service provided by Street Outreach. Too often, birth certificates or identification cards are lost or stolen while living on the streets or in the woods.