SOS Community Services

SOS Community Services includes several programs: SOS Crisis Center, Homeless Family Services and the Family Support Network. The SOS Crisis Center houses walk-in crisis counseling, an Emergency Food Pantry, Housing Crisis Line and walk-in services and help with financial and other basic needs. Homeless Family Services includes Prospect Place Family Shelter, Transitional Housing, Employability Support and follow up support for recently homeless families. The Family Support Network is a network of agencies serving homeless families that provides child care at Time for Tots, substance abuse treatment at New Horizons and housing relocation support to families in shelter.The mission of SOS Community Services is to respond with care and respect to families in need by working in partnerships that result in economic, family, and residential stability.

History:
1970 SOS ("Students Offering Support") was founded by students and faculty of Eastern Michigan University as a peer counseling program opened 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.1971 SOS moved off campus to broaden the accessibility of services to the entire community. Established core programming of 24 hour crisis phone and walk-in services, informationreferral, suicide prevention short-term counseling, substance abuse prevention, andemergency food distribution.1973 SOS moves into 114 North River Street, the home of the SOS Crisis Center ever since,and adopts the name "SOS Community Crisis Center".1976 SOS officially becomes a private not-for-profit agency.1981 SOS Crisis Services were increasingly directed toward families and individuals struggling with crises associated with economic needs-e.g. unemployment, hunger, shelter, and other basic needs. Expanded food pantry, consumer advocacy services and emergency housing aid.1985 SOS created "Washtenaw Affordable Housing Initiative" as a broad-basedeffort to engage the wider community in responding to homelessness and the need for affordable housing. Formed new partnerships with property owners, other service providers and community leaders.1988 Prospect Place Family Shelter, Washtenaw County's first shelter for families is opened, along with a continuum of services to assist families in their efforts to achieve lastingstability and self-reliance.1990 Transitional Housing began with 20 families scattered in apartments throughout thecommunity to assist families in establishing the skills necessary to achieve long-termstability.1995 Families Forward begins as an employability support program that provides familieswith special opportunities for pre-employment skills training, job apprenticeships andmentoring.1994 Family Support Network is created as a collaboration between all organizations servinghomeless families with children in Washtenaw County. Developed collaborative programs to address the need for childcare (TIME FOR TOTS, drug treatment specifically for homeless women with children (NEW HORIZONS), and housing relocation.1995 HELPNET (http://comnet.org/helpnet), a web-based network is created to addresshousing relocation, services availability, and inter-agency communication.1998 Today we are more than a crisis center and have adopted the new name SOS Community Services.

Contact person: Mimi Weisberg, Volunteer Coordinator, (734) 961-1210, (email)

Office fax number: (734) 485-8739

Address:

Administrative offices 101 S. Huron Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.soscs.org

Directions:

SOS Crisis Center is located at 114 North River in Ypsilanti.Time for Tots is located at 1128 White Street, walking distance from UM Campus.   Nearest Bus Stop: AATA #5 to Ypsilanti

Last updated on August 17, 2009