The Road Home: A Documentary Screening and Panel Exploring Homelessness, Housing, and Community Interventions

The Road Home: From Conversation to Community Action

A Documentary Screening and Panel Exploring Homelessness, Housing, and Community Interventions

Homelessness in Washtenaw County has reached its highest recorded level since comparable federal counts began in 2007. This crisis disproportionately affects older adults, young children, and other marginalized communities. As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable and more people face homelessness, what does a humane community response look like?

Join the University of Michigan School of Social Work and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission for a screening of The Road Home, a documentary directed by Kameron Donald of Breyko and produced by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. The film explores homelessness, housing insecurity, and mental health in Washtenaw County.

Following the screening, hear how local leaders are responding to homelessness amid limited resources, threats to federal housing funding, and increased stigmatization. The panel will explore the role of social work and what humane community responses and policies look like.

Panelists include:

• Nicole Adelman, MPH, Executive Director of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, which operates the Delonis Center, the county’s largest and most heavily used shelter.
• Shonagh Taruza, Executive Director of Interfaith Hospitality Network at Alpha House, which operates the county’s only congregate family shelter, where families receive shelter and support together.
• Jennifer Hall, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, the city’s public housing authority, which develops and manages affordable housing and connects residents with supportive services.
• Jonathan Laye, LLMSW, Director of the City of Ann Arbor’s Supportive Connections program, which connects residents experiencing homelessness and other challenges with services. He is helping launch SPROUT, the city’s new unarmed crisis response program.

This event is co-sponsored by the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and is open to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

School of Social Work students may receive field credit for attending with approval from their field faculty instructors.

Click here to register