COTS Detroit

COTS provides a continuum of care for each of our shelter guests and housing residents. This means that COTS´ programs (Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing) are designed to address each individual´s needs and circumstances and support them in moving along a continuum from homelessness to housing and stability. COTS links each client to resources provided by COTS and within the larger community to assist them in breaking the cycle of homelessness.

Case Management

Case Planners provide individualized case management services for each of our shelter guests and families. Each person entering COTS Emergency Shelter or housing programs meets first with a Case Planner. The Case Planner helps individuals faced with the trauma of homelessness address their immediate needs, and then begin to take the steps that will lead to productive lives, and they continue to provide support and encouragement along the way. Through COTS´ Family Stabilization Program, families leaving the Emergency Shelter for permanent housing receive ongoing follow-up and case management services for up to one year, and can utilize supportive services such as COTS´ Child Care Centers or Education and Employment Center for up to one year, free of charge.

Bright Beginnings Child Development Center

Two licensed child care centers provide quality care for the children of our shelter guests and transitional housing residents so that they can work, seek housing or employment, attend school or take other steps to rebuild their lives, knowing that their children are safe and well cared for. The goal of our Child Care Centers is to help homeless children develop cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills at a rate equal to that of children who are not homeless. COTS provides a wide array of educational, cultural and recreational activities for our children, including Homework Club, an annual Back-To-School Summer Fest, summer day camps, holiday and birthday parties,

and field trips such as Tiger baseball games at Comerica Park and theater outings to the Fox Theater. Many of these opportunities are provided thanks to the generosity and assistance of our donors and volunteers. At the same time, our program provides support for high-risk mothers including workshops on parenting, child health and nutrition, coping and self esteem.

Bright Beginnings DONOR LIST (PDF) - Thank you!

COTS´ Education & Employment Center

COTS´ Education Center provides literacy assessment and instruction for COTS shelter guests. Through the generosity of the IBM Corporation, a computer lab with educational software is available for individualized study in reading and math skill building and the development of computer skills. Other educational services include tutoring, referrals for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED classes. COTS also supports family literacy through Homework Club, tutoring and other after school programs for school age children in COTS´ Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Programs. Wayne State University Students facilitate the tutoring, which is also extended to adult college students. Employment services include job readiness and career workshops, resume preparation, peer counseling, educational and employment counseling, job development, job placement and job retention services. COTS places individuals in over 4,000 full and part-time jobs each year, including COTS shelter guests and housing residents and individuals referred by other agencies. COTS´ Employment Center personnel work with employees and employers to support our clients in retaining employment and increasing earning power.