MCREST

05/29/2026

A huge thank you to Girl Scout Isla Green (Troop 76945) for donating 53 bags of feminine hygiene products to MCREST! 🌟

It's special when kindness comes from a young person choosing to use their time and energy to serve others.

05/27/2026

📉 Federal Housing Funding Under Pressure in 2027 Budget

A congressional subcommittee recently advanced a federal spending bill for fiscal year 2027 that would cut funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development by more than 8% — roughly $5.94 billion — compared to current levels.

Among the programs facing reductions are Homeless Assistance Grants, which would be cut by more than $256 million, tenant-based rental assistance vouchers, and public housing operations.

Fair housing enforcement funding would be cut by 65%.

These are the very programs that help people like our guests find and maintain stable housing.

The proposed cuts come at a moment when homelessness is at record levels nationally, with more than 771,000 people experiencing homelessness across the country and 75% of low-income renters spending more than half of their income on rent.

Critics of the bill have warned that reductions of this scale could force thousands of additional Americans into housing instability, while straining the nonprofit organizations and local agencies already working to meet an overwhelming need.

At MCREST, we will be watching this process closely. The federal programs at stake are not abstract budget line items — they are the tools our case managers use every day to help guests find their way home.

05/26/2026

🔑 Jacqueline got her keys!

After hard work and determination, she exited the MCREST program and moved into housing this month. These are the moments that remind us exactly why we do this work.

Congratulations, Jacqueline!

05/20/2026

🎂 For His Birthday, Joseph Chose MCREST

Most kids turning another year older want a party. A cake. Maybe bowling or laser tag.

Joseph wanted to serve dinner at MCREST.

When his mom asked what he wanted to do for his birthday, his answer stopped her in her tracks: "Can we have my birthday party at MCREST?"

She reminded him that MCREST isn't exactly a party venue.

"I know," he said. "I just want to invite my friends to serve dinner with me."

So that's exactly what they did.

What started as an invitation to four friends quickly grew — the way good things tend to — into a group of 25 or more kids and adults who wanted in on what Joseph was doing. The MCREST kitchen, cozy on the best of days, couldn't quite hold that kind of enthusiasm, so about 15 people made it work in the most joyful, cramped, meaningful way possible.

Together, they prepared and served approximately 100 meals to MCREST guests — for less than a typical birthday dinner out would have cost.

Joseph's mom, who serves as the church coordinator for MCREST at St. Lucy Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, shared the story the day after the party. "Joseph was so happy," she wrote. "He is still radiating pure joy."

So are we.

Happy birthday, Joseph! What an impressive young man you are!

05/19/2026

Public meeting tonight with Mt. Clemens Ad-Hoc Committee on Homelessness. Any and all are encouraged to attend.

Join the conversation and help shape solutions in our community.

The next Ad-HOC Committee on Homelessness meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at 5:00 PM at the Mount Clemens Public Library.

This meeting’s discussion topic will focus on identifying partners and solutions as the committee continues working toward meaningful community collaboration and support.

Community members are welcome to attend.

🗓 Tuesday, May 19
⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 Mount Clemens Public Library
150 Cass Avenue, Mount Clemens

05/18/2026

Mount Clemens Has a New Committee Focused on Homelessness

Earlier this year, the Mount Clemens City Commission voted unanimously to create an ad-hoc committee dedicated to understanding and addressing homelessness and housing instability within the city.

The committee is expected to meet monthly throughout 2026 and has a clear charge: deepen the city's understanding of homelessness in Mount Clemens, take stock of the resources already available to residents in crisis, and identify ways to reduce housing instability before it escalates.

A formal report of findings is expected to be delivered to the city by the end of the year.

City Commissioner Spencer Calhoun, who experienced homelessness as a teenager, has been central to the committee's formation. He has emphasized that its scope goes beyond visibly homeless residents — extending to neighbors who may be at risk of eviction or on the edge of losing stable housing.

The committee is designed to include city commissioners, municipal staff, housing professionals, community stakeholders, and people with lived experience of homelessness.

05/14/2026

💪 After the Divorce, Renee Got to Work

Renee didn't arrive at MCREST in crisis in the way people might imagine. There was no dramatic rock bottom — just the quiet devastation of a marriage ending and a life that suddenly needed to be rebuilt from scratch. She came in unemployed, surviving on SSI, with less than $1,000 a month to her name and no clear picture of what came next.

She got to work anyway.

Renee secured part-time employment and threw herself into the search for affordable housing — showing up consistently, following every lead, refusing to wait for stability to come to her. When she found an apartment in Mount Clemens that fit her needs and her budget, MCREST prioritized her for the Rapid Rehousing program to make it possible.

This past week, Renee got her keys.

A divorce. Unemployment. An income that barely covered the basics. None of it stopped her. She just kept going — and now she has a home of her own to show for it.

05/13/2026

👀 Looking back on Lowe's Red Vest Day as we look forward to the opening of our Men's Shelter!

05/12/2026

Join the conversation and help shape solutions in our community.

The next Ad-HOC Committee on Homelessness meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at 5:00 PM at the Mount Clemens Public Library.

This meeting’s discussion topic will focus on identifying partners and solutions as the committee continues working toward meaningful community collaboration and support.

Community members are welcome to attend.

🗓 Tuesday, May 19
⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 Mount Clemens Public Library
150 Cass Avenue, Mount Clemens

05/08/2026

Calling all gear heads! Get your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/road-to-home-a-mcrest-gala-tickets-1987545236305?aff=oddtdtcreator