Avery Woodard
Research Mentor(s): Dillon Hoffman
Mentor Department: Michigan Ability Partners
Authors: Avery Woodard, Sharae McZahn, LMSW-C
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 41
Abstract
In 2020 in Washtenaw County alone 2,800 people experienced homelessness and sought emergency shelter. These individuals often need much more than housing support. They need help gaining social supports, finding jobs, getting to appointments, grocery shopping, and more. Michigan Ability Partners (MAP), a nonprofit located in Ann Arbor but serving all of Washtenaw County, works to bridge the gap between instability and stability for those who have experienced chronic homelessness. As MAP helps community members from diverse backgrounds, it is extremely important to understand the specific needs of these individuals to make sure they are receiving the best services possible so they can thrive in their environments. To ensure this, research was conducted to establish the satisfaction of clients and roles of housing support coordinators at MAP. This research involved interacting with clients in the field to build relationships and an understanding of the community being served and carrying out and analyzing client satisfaction surveys. The results deemed most important were presented to MAP staff to ensure improvements can/will be implemented. The findings from this research will not only allow MAP to provide clients with the best service possible, but also shed light on the wide range of resources people who have experienced homelessness and poverty need, many of whose needs are not being met.
