Skip to content- Why Growing Hope/Downtown Ypsilanti for the pilot?
- Originally, we imagined a pilot program that spanned both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. However, after not receiving the Ann Arbor ARPA funds, we went full force into centering Ypsilanti for our pilot launch. After much deliberation and conversation, we decided to have our place-based pilot at the downtown Ypsilanti location of Growing Hope—for multiple reasons:
- It is centrally located, so if there is a need for de-escalation or overdose reversal at the bus stop, by the library, or any of the parks nearby, we are a walk away.
- A core value of ours is going where our relationships are, and where we have been invited; our partners and concerned community members have invited us to station ourselves in an area where in the recent past, there has been over-policing of our people.
- By providing services and programming at this space, we are creating opportunities for community members to find comfort, rest, and laughter without fear of suspicion or harassment from law enforcement
- We understand the need for non-police crisis response in other parts of town as well, and we are hopeful that when we have the funds to hire and train more responders, we can expand our reach to other affected individuals or heavily policed parts of town.
