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MCREST In the Media
April 8, 2022
Macomb County opens new homeless shelter for women, children
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - A new shelter in Macomb County will help women and children facing homelessness. "This was something that was well overdue," said County Executive Mark Hackel. "Unfortunately, sometimes we deal with it where sometimes people end up in the county jail as a result of it. Inappropriate. That’s not where they belong."
January 11, 2022
"Examining a new effort to fight homelessness in Macomb County"
(WXYZ) — In tonight's 7 UpFront segment we're focusing on an effort underway to help local families struggling with homelessness. Joining us to talk about it is April Fidler, the CEO of Macomb Rotating Emergency Shelter Team, the non-profit behind the new emergency shelter in Macomb County that will provide support for mothers and children.
January 11, 2022
"Macomb County nonprofit to open homeless shelter for women and children in spring"
Mount Clemens — A decades-old Macomb County nonprofit is gearing up for the spring opening of its first shelter for homeless women and children. The Macomb County Regional Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) facility, located in a formerly vacant building at 215 S. Main Street, will house about 45 women and children for up to 90 days at a time, the group's executive director April Fidler told The Detroit News. MCREST raised $1.6 million to renovate the...
January 12, 2022
"A new start for Macomb’s MCREST shelter"
She promised herself she wouldn’t cry.
But the tears welled up just the same as April Fidler spoke to guests during Tuesday’s tour of the new homeless shelter for women and children built by the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter (MCREST). “This is a dream come true,” said the executive director, who began her career as an intern for MCREST while working toward her degree in social work. She was also a single mother who had to...
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January 11, 2022
"Home For The Homeless"
It’s a startling statistic: nearly 1,200 homeless students were reported to the Michigan Department of Education by Macomb County school districts during the 2019-2020 school year. Among the organizations helping to overcome this tragic situation is Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST). It provides meals, lodging, life-skills training, housing assistance, job readiness training, and emergency shelter 365 days each year to Macomb County’s...
November 30, 2021
"MCREST among the charities hoping to raise funds during Giving Tuesday"
It’s Giving Tuesday and among the nonprofits working to raise funds for its mission to help Macomb County’s homeless population is the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST). Providing a big boost for today’s campaign is Weingartz. As the presenting sponsor for MCREST, Weingartz has pledged to match all donations made on Giving Tuesday, up to $25,000, as well as all gifts given throughout the Returning Home Campaign...
November 27, 2021
"MCREST Launches Returning Home Holiday Program"
ROSEVILLE, MI (WXYZ) — Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) is launching its year-end Returning Home campaign with a $25,000 matching donation from Weingartz to ensure that the not-for-profit can continue sheltering Macomb County individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as help them return them to stable housing throughout the coming year...
September 24, 2021
"MCREST guests leave their troubles behind during visit to Blake’s Big Apple"
The big white school buses from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville carrying guests from Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team arrived in Armada shortly after suppertime. At first nobody seemed excited. Then again, nobody knew what to expect. Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) and Blake’s Big Apple had joined forces to provide homeless men, women and children with an opportunity to visit an apple orchard free...
July 29, 2021
"Michigan has a serious lack of affordable housing -- and crisis could get worse soon"
A renter making minimum wage would have to work 77 hours a week — nearly two full-time jobs — to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Michigan.
That's according to a report released this month by the National Low Income Housing Coalition examining the gulf between wages and housing cost among American renters. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there weren't enough affordable homes to meet demand for them...
December 12, 2020
“Homeless shelters and providers across metro Detroit brace for a pandemic winter”
May 9, 2021
MCREST seeking community to support homeless mothers and children
December 10, 2020
“Metro Detroit boy has collected holiday donations every year since he was 4 years old”
May 6, 2021
MCREST 'Moms for Moms' campaign will help furnish shelter for women and children
May 4, 2021
Operation Safe Haven 2 connects people in need to those who can help
May 3, 2021
Roseville's Operation Safe Haven 2 will connect people in need with agencies that can help
March 14, 2021
“Items on MCREST wish list still needed for future women and children's shelter”
February 10, 2021
“MCREST reaches its Returning Home campaign goal of $300,000”
November 15, 2020
“MCREST announces money in need and money received to help the homeless”
November 9, 2020
“Leadership Macomb hosts Invisible Casualties of COVID-19 webinar”
December 21, 2020
“No parties, still joy: Organizations adapt to serve homeless at Christmas”
December 14, 2020
Letters: Readers on working for the common good this holiday season
Press Releases
MCREST Launches Returning Home Campaign to Support Macomb
County Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness
ROSEVILLE, MI, November 9, 2021 — Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) is launching its year-end Returning Home campaign with a $25,000 matching donation from Weingartz to ensure that the not-for-profit can continue sheltering Macomb County individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as help them return them to stable housing throughout the coming year.
The community’s tax-deductible donations will enable MCREST to continue to meet the increasing need for its emergency shelter services and permanent housing support. Residents’ donations will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000, thanks to Weingartz’ s generosity. Other lead donors to-date have been Axiom Construction Services Group.
MCREST has offered hope and help throughout the pandemic, sheltering a total of 755 people this past year, a 40 percent increase over the 540 people it served the previous year. Children represent more than one-quarter of those MCREST serves annually.
MCREST also operated a temporary warming program last winter that provided food and shelter to an additional 275 individuals per month. MCREST will once again care for this vulnerable population this coming winter. In total, MCREST has provided nearly 800,000 nights of shelter to Macomb County’s homeless population during its history.
MCREST feeds and shelters individuals, families, and children experiencing homelessness for 32 years through vital partnerships with more than 70+ Macomb County congregations.
However, MCREST incurred increased operational expenses in shifting shelter to a local motel when its partner churches temporarily closed at the onset of COVID-19. Though many churches are reopened for worship, they are not yet hosting MCREST weeks, leaving the organization with increased costs for the foreseeable future.
Over the years, MCREST’s support of homeless individuals has continuously evolved to better serve the community. This includes providing nearly 800 adults with educationa opportunities and job-readiness and placement services, helping its guests to secure stable employment in high-demand fields and make the transition to a stable lifestyle.
In 2022, MCREST will open a permanent Mt. Clemens shelter that will provide wraparound services to up to 45 women and children at a time as they transition from homelessness to self-reliance.
“MCREST has stepped up to the plate throughout the pandemic to provide hope and a path to self-reliance for increasing numbers of individuals and families,” said MCREST’s Executive Director; CEO April Fidler. “Now, we’re asking for the community’s help, so that we can continue to shelter families experiencing homelessness and return them home in the coming year.”
A $25 donation this holiday season to the MCREST Returning Home Campaign will provide a night of shelter for a Macomb County adult or child experiencing homelessness.
To donate or sponsor to the campaign, please visit www.mcest.org/returninghome
MCREST Homeless Shelter Receives
$25,000 Consumers Energy Foundation Grant
Macomb organization to use funds for its Returning Home campaign
Roseville, Mich. December, 2020 — The Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) has received a $25,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation.
The Consumers Energy grant will be part of the Returning Home campaign that is enabling renovations to a Mt. Clemens building to provide temporary shelter, food, educational resources, job training and job placement for up to 45 women and children at a time.
More than 1,500 children experience homelessness in Macomb County each year.
The new facility will allow a stable location for women and children to receive support services on their path to self-reliance. Men will continue to be welcomed within the church network.
For more than 30 years, MCREST has worked with a network of 70+ churches to offer a rotating solution for guests experiencing homelessness. In 2020, they have helped nearly 600 individuals.
April Fidler, MCREST CEO, said, “We’re so grateful to the Consumers Energy Foundation and their COVID-19 relief efforts. They’re a huge help to us in our work to provide stability and reduce trauma for children experiencing homelessness.”
“Consumers Energy is dedicated to ensuring all Michigan residents thrive economically, especially our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “Now, more than ever, the emergency shelter services MCREST provides are critical to helping families and individuals in crisis overcome these challenging times and find a pathway to self-sufficiency and a brighter future.”
As Macomb County’s leading provider of shelter and support services to homeless individuals, MCREST currently shelters 180 guests per day. Those in need of services can call MCREST at 586-415-5101.
Macomb County's Children Need Our Help
Op-Ed by Tim Joy, board member, MCREST (Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team) and chair, MCREST Returning Home Campaign
How do you safely shelter during a pandemic when you don’t have a home? That’s a question facing thousands of Macomb County residents experiencing homelessness right now—and many of them are children. For them, the trauma of day-to-day changes in shelter, added to the physical and emotional uncertainty, can cause lasting psychological damage. Throw in cold temperatures and a pandemic, and that’s a dire situation.
Back when the coronavirus first hit and churches shut down, many people lost their only places of shelter, temporary as they might be. In Macomb County, people experiencing homelessness are now staying at an area motel to stay healthy from the pandemic and off the street. MCREST (Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team) is grateful for this temporary solution on the path to self-reliance.
With the cold weather comes an increase in guest intake for the County and for MCREST. Thanks to the cooperation of local nonprofits and County departments, including the Macomb County Emergency Management, we’re able to triple the number of guests receiving temporary motel shelter through MCREST - from 60 to 180 each month. This keeps people safe, healthy and warm.
But what about the children? MCREST is working to finish renovations on a special building that will be a temporary home for women and children. But MCREST needs help —$300,000 of it — to finish the project. When complete, the Mt. Clemens building will provide food, educational resources, childcare and tutoring, job training and job placement for up to 45 women and children at a time. This Center will allow students to attend remote classes from a secure location. It will help job seekers gain financial independence.
We’re grateful to Weingartz and Christian Family Credit Union for their leadership in our campaign. It is time for additional businesses to step up. For more information on how businesses and individuals can help these important women and children, visit www.mcrest.org/returninghome.
As this pandemic rages on, your help will be a crucial step to relieve the crisis of homelessness in our community.
MCREST Launches Returning Home Campaign to Complete Support Center for Macomb County Families and Children
ROSEVILLE, MI, November 10, 2020 — Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) is launching a $300,000 Returning Home campaign to better accommodate and enhance the support provided to homeless children and families. More than 1,000 children experience homelessness in Macomb County each year.
The new campaign will enable renovations to a Mt. Clemens building to provide temporary shelter, food, educational resources, job training and job placement for up to 45 women and children at a time.
For more than 30 years, MCREST has worked with a network of 70+ churches to offer a rotating solution for guests experiencing homelessness. In 2020, they have helped nearly 600 individuals.
The new Center will allow a stable location for women and children to receive support services on their path to self-reliance. Men will continue to be welcomed within the church network.
One guest, Angela, spent three months in the MCREST program this year when her family struggles became dire and left her and her family homeless.
“MCREST keeps my family safe and is a refuge,” said Angela. “They help with food, housing, rent and security deposits. It is ground zero when you need help. We didn’t know where to turn, especially with a 10-month old.”
“It’s traumatic to move children around, particularly during the school year,” said April Fidler, executive director, MCREST. “The new Center will reduce the stress on the whole family as we wrap our arms around them with support services and stability.”
Lead sponsors to date for the Returning Home campaign are Weingartz and Christian Financial Credit Union. To donate or sponsor to the campaign, please go to the RETURNING HOME page.
New 2020-21 Program
As the leading County provider of shelter and support services for homeless individuals, MCREST is now also helping provide additional temporary shelter throughout 2021. Beginning this month, MCREST is sheltering up to 180 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness each month. The 120-person increase triples MCREST’s current 60-person monthly capacity and comes at the beginning of the cold weather months, which can be devastating to those experiencing homelessness.
The funding for this increase is provided by Macomb County Emergency Management and was secured from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and a HUD Emergency Solutions Grant. The additional money will support the expansion of MCREST’s capacity for one year.
MCREST is accommodating all 180 guests at the Microtel Inn & Suites on 13 Mile Road near Gratiot Avenue in Roseville. MCREST typically houses guests in communal spaces like congregation halls and gyms at its network of more than 70 churches, but separate rooms and communal space to social distance is needed to keep guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People in need of shelter should telephone 586-415-5101.
About MCREST
Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) provides meals, lodging, life-skills training, housing assistance, job readiness training, and emergency shelter 365 days each year to Macomb County’s homeless population.
MCREST partners with more than 70 churches in Macomb County to temporarily shelter people experiencing homelessness on a rotating basis, with the shelter location moving from church to church each week. MCREST also operates a Learning and Resource Center.
Founded in 1988, MCREST has grown from a homeless day camp to a registered 501(c)(3) that assists approximately 600 people experiencing homelessness each year.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Colleen Robar, crobar@robarpr.com, 313-207-5960
