Everything Under The Sun: Helping Those Without Permanent Housing In Detroit

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Helping Those Without Permanent Housing In Detroit

Doxie (right) met Ross, who came to Detroit to distribute gift packs to those without permanent homes.

Hope resides in the City of Detroit. It is the inspirational city dwellers who have never given up on the City they call home. All of the bad press about the City's failure hasn't stopped their hope.

One of the individuals who has enthusiasm and faith in her City is Danielle "Doxie" Kaltz. She's been one of the shining lights to those who live on Detroit's streets, those without permanent shelter. Maybe it's her humanity or maybe it has just been her outreach and respect, but that's having an influence.

It may be this simple gesture of volunteers working together for DETROIT BURNERS WITHOUT BORDERS of providing the basics for their clientele that makes a difference. So many people thinking about those in need. The backing of a worldwide organization, BURNERS WITHOUT BORDERS, which provides disaster relief and assistance with community initiatives, like the Detroit project. It all goes into the Detroit organization.

So, what does this organization do? It starts with collecting backpacks. Then those backpacks are filled with such items as toiletries, gift cards, emergency blankets, foot warmers, wipes, scarves, hand warmers, even cans of baked beans. More than that, though, Doxie learns about the people, whom she serves, who found themselves in such difficult circumstances. And then, with their permission, includes their stories in her blog posts.

Jennie Kay, who knows Doxie Katz well, talks about her devotion, "Doxie is a doer. She doesn't wait for the 501c3 [tax-exempt paperwork] to be filed, the structure of things to get figured out...she sees a need, she gets it done, especially when it comes to helping the welfare and outcome of others."

One of Doxie's posts from last month discusses an outing into the city with a family group who accompanied her into the City to give out backpacks. The couple had both their own children and two nephews who were in their late teens or young adult age group. One of the youth came from Canada and the group noted that similar issues with homelessness also occurred in Canada.

Doxie and Michael, from Congregation of Every 1, are ready to hit the streets with extra canned goods.

Windsor is just over the US-Canadian border from Detroit and a local radio station was on and discussing homelessness in Windsor. The estimate was that at least 200 people there live in the streets every night. You never know if someone you love could one day be in the situation of no longer having a permanent residence. So many people live from paycheck to paycheck, and just one day of illness could mean that difference between a home or no home. And that's a whole different perspective on this issue.