Today I had the joy of interviewing my good friend Chelsea MacAdam about homelessness! Chelsea is the Community Outreach Director for Oaks Village. Oaks is a nonprofit in Monroe, Michigan that works to “rebuild our community, restore families and repurpose individuals.” On any given night, there are 190 homeless people on the streets of Monroe county. The team at Oaks works to feed, house, provide medical care, connect resources with, & simply love the people of Monroe!

November is Homeless Awareness month in Michigan! We discuss several key points, including ways to support your community, the barriers people face while accessing social services, and removing the stigma surrounding seeking support. We dive into things well-intended people do that are not actually very helpful, along with how to be mindful of the accessibility of nonprofits you’re donating to! Most importantly, we talk about honoring the holiness of people experiencing homelessness & how building relationships with others drives us to want more for all of our neighbors. This work is imperative, especially as the weather gets colder. May our increased awareness lead to increased advocacy!

To get involved at Oaks Village, or to utilize their services, visit their website: https://www.oaksvillage.net/

Here is the link to their Donation Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1LDQXRRXP43O3?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_lOHv9JbX3CwsX&fbclid=PAAaZAfIHB5SIjK15Qc6pu0yHQaUsgXarHEQblPdmW-B28K3TT0Ca4iVzbLiE