A basic needs forecast from nonprofits serving those who struggle the most
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“So many people are asking why people are still struggling paying their rent?” says Kirsten Elliott, vice president and chief operating officer of Community Housing Network (CHN). “It’s because COVID is still a very real and persistent issue facing folks in our community.”
Founded in 2001, CHN, serving primarily southeast Michigan, provides an array of housing services: everything from homeless outreach and prevention to rapid rehousing, homebuyer education, and property management. Looking forward, Elliott expects to see an uptick in rent arrears and evictions. She attributes this in part to the shortage of affordable housing — rents across Michigan rose by 8 percent just last year— and in part due to the effect of COVID-19 on essential workers.
A basic needs forecast from nonprofits serving those who struggle the most
BROOKE MARSHALL | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023
At the turn of the new year, area nonprofits and those they serve are facing a host of challenges: inflation, rising housing and utility costs, the lingering effects of COVID-19. The work ahead is daunting, but the nonprofit sector tends to attract optimists.
Here, leaders from four area nonprofits specializing in food security, utility assistance, affordable housing, and healthcare share their forecasts for the coming year. The obstacles are many, both for their clientele and their organizations, but these leaders are prepared to meet them with a range of creative solutions and a spirit of collaboration.
