The Built For Zero movement in Washtenaw County

Since January 2015, Washtenaw Housing Alliance has partnered with multiple Washtenaw County governmental and non-profit organizations focused on an initiative called, “Built for Zero.” Built for Zero (BFZ) is a rigorous national initiative designed to help a committed group of U.S. communities end veteran and chronic homelessness.

Over the past six years, there has been much work by so many to link stable housing to those experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in Washtenaw County. Barriers to housing faced by an individual or family has been collaboratively confronted by the BFZ team of partners. Resources, strategies, and networks are shared in real-time and outreach to clients in need of services is a joint effort between social services. This team is intentional and committed to the continuum of care work they do.

One of the most exciting results from all this hard work is veteran homelessness in our county is dropping! Following two separate phases of move-ins at Avalon Housing’s new Hickory Way Apartments this summer and fall, almost 20 veterans have been housed! The new aim for the BFZ team is to now reduce vet homelessness by an additional 33% by April 2022. This aim is reachable – our county is so close to ending veteran homelessness.

For homeless individuals in our county, the BFZ data on a whole is encouraging. Again, there has been a drop in the number because of Hickory Way move-ins as well as individuals exiting from homelessness to other housing options, impressive considering the current housing market.

The effects of the pandemic and recession have been more noticeable in the number of families experiencing homelessness in the county. There has been a steady rise in part because families not previously identified as homeless are struggling to find and afford stable housing. But some good news is the BFZ team still managed to exit more families to housing this year. The disbursement of pandemic-related funds and housing vouchers were the critical safety nets making many of these placements possible.

Below are the latest Built For Zero tracking and trend graphics, broken down by those experiencing homelessness as a veteran, chronically unsheltered, single adult, or family. There are certainly too many people still needing housing in our county. But together we continue to push forward to end homelessness while reimagining how we approach and restructure community care.

Side note: Some members of our Built For Zero county partners attended BFZ’s recent Fall Learning Sessions. More about these sessions can be found here.

This graph shows the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County between October 2020 through October 2021.

This graph shows the number of chronic homelessness in Washtenaw County between October 2020 through October 2021.

This graph shows the number of single adult experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County between September 2020 through October 2021.

This graph shows the number of families experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County between September 2020 through October 2021.