Housing

Housing Access for Washtenaw County (HAWC)

Address: 100 Arbana Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: (734) 961-1999
Email: HAWC@washtenaw.org
Website: Housing Access for Washtenaw County

Call Center Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. A current 2026 county resource guide and HAWC’s recent call-center materials list these hours.

HAWC is Washtenaw County’s central intake and main point of entry for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Residents may contact HAWC for:

• Emergency shelter intake and referrals
• Family shelter assessment
• Eviction-prevention assistance
• Rental arrears/back-rent resources
• Security deposit and moving-cost assistance, when funding is available
• Housing assessments and referrals
• Housing Choice Voucher applications or reevaluations when applicable

Important: HAWC does not provide hotel vouchers or immediate temporary shelter, and housing/shelter resources are currently very limited. Families may experience significant waits depending on the type of assistance needed.

SOS Community Services – Housing & Family Resource Center

Address: 114 N. River St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Utility Assistance: (734) 484-5411
Website: SOS Community Services

Family Resource Center Hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Thursday & Friday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

SOS Community Services provides housing stabilization services and can assist families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. For housing assistance, families must first contact Housing Access for Washtenaw County (HAWC) at (734) 961-1999. HAWC completes the initial housing assessment and refers eligible households to SOS and other housing programs.

SOS housing services may include Rapid Re-Housing, housing stabilization, and eviction-prevention support, depending on eligibility, referral, and available resources.

The Family Resource Center can also help with utility assistance, emergency food, transportation support, MI Bridges applications, and referrals to other community resources.

For housing: Call HAWC at (734) 961-1999 first.
For utility assistance: Call SOS at (734) 484-5411.

Ozone House – Safe Stay Youth Shelter

Youth Shelter Address: 1600 N. Huron River Dr., Ypsilanti, MI 48197
24/7 Crisis Line: (734) 662-2222
Text: Text “Ozone” to (734) 662-2222, Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Website: Ozone House

Ozone House provides free, voluntary, and confidential support for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth and their families.

Safe Stay is for youth ages 10–17 who need a safe place to stay, are experiencing family conflict, have run away, or are at risk of running away. Youth may stay for up to 3 weeks and receive:

• Individual and family therapy
• Group therapy
• Educational support
• Life-skills workshops
• Safe recreational activities
• Help creating a plan to return to a safe and stable home

Both the youth and guardian must agree to participate in Safe Stay.

Drop-In/Welcome Center: Youth ages 13–24 can also access food, laundry, showers, toiletries, computers, phones, job coaching, and a safe place to spend time.

SafeHouse Center

Address: 4100 Clark Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105
24/7 HelpLine: (734) 995-5444
Website: SafeHouse Center

SafeHouse Center provides free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence/intimate partner violence and sexual assault who live, work, or were victimized in Washtenaw County. Services are available to survivors age 14 and older, and interpretation is available.

Services may include:

• Emergency temporary shelter
• 24-hour crisis support
• Safety planning
• Individual crisis support
• Support groups
• Legal advocacy
• Sexual assault response services
• Information and referrals for survivors, family members, and friends

Walk-in/Lobby Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

24/7 HelpLine: (734) 995-5444 — available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)

Phone: 1-855-MI-MSHDA (1-855-646-7432)
Website: MSHDA

MSHDA provides housing resources for renters, people seeking affordable housing, homebuyers, and homeowners throughout Michigan. Resources include:

• Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8)
• Affordable rental housing searches
• Project-Based Voucher housing
• Homelessness and housing-crisis resources
• Homebuyer and homeowner programs
• Housing counseling and education

Housing Choice Voucher: The program helps eligible very-low-income households pay rent in privately owned housing. Applications are only accepted when a county waiting list is open.

Important current note: As of September 2026, MSHDA has no regular Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists open statewide. Project-Based Voucher waiting lists may still be available for individual properties.

Affordable Housing Search:
MSHDA provides online tools to search for affordable rental properties throughout Michigan. 

If You Have an Eviction Court Date

Go to every court hearing, especially your first hearing. If you do not appear, the court may enter a default judgment against you. Your Summons will tell you whether your hearing is in person or remote/Zoom and how to attend. If you are unsure, contact the court listed on your Summons.

Free Legal Help

Legal Services of South Central Michigan – Washtenaw County

Address: 15 S. Washington St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: (734) 665-6181
Toll-Free: 1-888-665-6181
Website: Legal Services of South Central Michigan

Provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents, including help with housing and eviction matters. Assistance is not guaranteed and depends on eligibility, the type of case, and available resources.

Current intake: Call Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Have your lease, court papers, notices, and other documents related to the problem available when you call.

Other Legal Resources

Washtenaw County Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Service
Phone: (734) 996-3229
$30 referral fee includes a consultation of up to 30 minutes with a local attorney. This is not an emergency legal service.

State Bar of Michigan – Lawyer Referral Service
Phone: (800) 968-0738
Website: State Bar Lawyer Referral

$25 administrative fee includes an initial consultation of up to 25 minutes. The $25 fee is waived for tenants with urgent housing problems.

Michigan Legal Help
Website: Michigan Legal Help
Free online legal information, court forms, self-help tools, and information about eviction and tenant rights.

Rental Assistance

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services – State Emergency Relief (SER)

SER may provide relocation assistance, including help with rent, rent arrears, security deposits, or moving expenses for eligible households facing qualifying emergencies.

Apply: https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/
Washtenaw County MDHHS: 22 Center St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Phone: (734) 481-2000

Housing Access for Washtenaw County (HAWC)
Phone: (734) 961-1999
Email: HAWC@washtenaw.org
Website: HAWC

HAWC is the county’s central access point for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and may connect eligible households with eviction-prevention, rental assistance, shelter, and other housing resources. Resources are limited and assistance is not guaranteed.

Housing Bureau for Seniors – Michigan Medicine
Phone: (734) 998-9339
Email: housingbureauseniors@umich.edu

Provides free housing counseling and assistance for adults age 55 and older, including help with eviction prevention, rental concerns, mortgages, property taxes, housing transitions, and finding sustainable housing.

Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs
Phone: (734) 973-4540
Website: Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs

Assists Washtenaw County veterans, survivors, and eligible dependents with veteran benefits and may provide or connect eligible households with emergency financial assistance for housing, food, utilities, transportation, and medical needs.