“It all feels miraculous”: New family shelter in Ypsi addresses growing need for emergency housing

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

Trinity Health Ann Arbor, Interfaith Hospitality Network at Alpha House, and Washtenaw County are responding to the growing need for family emergency housing by opening Alpha House East, a temporary housing facility on Trinity Health’s campus in Ypsilanti. The facility, which opened over the winter of 2025, offers 30 individual housing units where families can stabilize, regroup, and begin the process of moving toward permanent housing. 

Alpha House East transforms a former nursing home building into a safe, welcoming space and recognizes an urgent need for additional shelter capacity on the east side of the county. 

“The timing of it all feels miraculous,” says Shonagh Taruza, executive director of Alpha House. She adds that as federal funding cuts loom and homelessness is expected to rise, the new warming center could not be more critical. 

“This is the first stop for someone if they lose housing, and then we help them find housing support from there,” Taruza says. “We have this space just in time.”

For Trinity Health Ann Arbor, the project reflects a broader commitment to community health beyond hospital walls. Alonzo Lewis, president of Trinity Health Ann Arbor, describes the organization as a “hospital without walls,” one that has a responsibility to respond to housing insecurity as a public health issue. 

“It speaks to the beauty of when community organizations, large anchor institutions, and governments see a need and mobilize resources and energy to accelerate change,” Lewis says. “It’s one thing to have a vision to be part of a solution; it’s another to see that vision become reality.”

Lewis refers to the funding and community partnerships that made the project possible. Taruza describes the process as a moment when “all the stars aligned,” as state, county, and philanthropic support came together just as the building became available. Among those critical investments were the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners’ approval of a $700,000 grant, and a $1 million Legislative Enhancement Grant from the state of Michigan, secured by State Sen. Jeff Irwin.

In a statement to Concentrate, Irwin emphasizes the importance of the project for families and children in the community.

“When families are without a home it puts a tremendous strain on their children,” Irwin says. “Providing safety and stability to these kids and their families makes our community stronger and I am extremely grateful for the leadership of Alpha House, Trinity Health, and Washtenaw County who are making this new family shelter possible.”

The building itself was uniquely suited to become a family shelter. Its private rooms, bathrooms, and shared community spaces made it an ideal candidate for emergency shelter use. With county support and renovations to bring it up to code, the space was quickly transformed into a warm, dignified environment for families facing crisis.

Taruza emphasizes that Alpha House’s goal is to be a pathway to long-term stability for families in need – particularly for single parents, an experience that she herself is quite familiar with. Once families arrive, they are paired with a case manager who helps assess their needs and build a plan for housing, employment, child care, transportation, and other essential support. 

“We try to get them in the mindset that this is a temporary stop,” Taruza explains. “The goal is to be empowered and equipped with the skills to find your own home and sustain it.”

Yet Taruza is clear that immense challenges remain. With a shelter waiting list of roughly 150 families, the need for expanded resources is urgent. 

“Seeing Trinity step in, the Board of Commissioners, and Sen. Irwin is miraculous,” she says. “This is what helps me get out of bed every day.”

For Trinity Health, Alpha House East also represents a new model for how large institutions can act as anchors for community stability. Lewis envisions a future where housing support is paired with employment pathways. Through what he describes as a “client-to-colleague” pipeline, residents may be connected with job opportunities at Trinity Health and supported by career coaching and educational partnerships.

“We have thousands of jobs,” he says. “We want to marry our commitment to community health with pathways to economic stability and break cycles of poverty.”

Residents are already feeling that sense of dignity and care. Taruza recalls one of the first children who stayed at Alpha House East asking if they were in a hotel.

“We hope they feel the same love and support that’s been poured into this place,” she says.

Looking ahead, both Alpha House and Trinity Health hope Alpha House East will inspire similar collaborations for other vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness, veterans, youth, and survivors of domestic violence. 

“Anything is possible when we work together,” Taruza says.

More information about the collaboration between Alpha House and Trinity Health is available here. Those in Washtenaw County seeking information about temporary and emergency housing can find it here. 

“When I walk into that space and see families in the warmth, out of the elements, and their children happy, I want to cry every time,” Taruza says. “Creating a place of safety and dignity for families in crisis is the most miraculous thing I’ve ever experienced.”