Detroit's homeless service providers prepare for NFL Draft

People experiencing homelessness will undoubtedly be impacted when the NFL Draft takes up 2 million square feet downtown later this month.

The big picture: Detroit was criticized for trying to "hide the homeless to make Detroit more attractive" for the 2006 Super Bowl, as the Washington Post put it .

State of play: Pope Francis Center executive director William Kangas tells Axios he's anticipating the possibility of fewer services being available for those experiencing homelessness downtown during the draft, so the center is trying to do more.

• The center, at 438 Saint Antoine St., plans to stay open longer and offer a third meal.
• It's usually open 7-11am, offering breakfast and a packed lunch, plus showers, laundry and more.

Between the lines: "We're trying to anticipate, what are the needs that are going to be changing for our guests?" Kangas says. "There are areas where folks might normally spend time that are going to be restricted. And so we want to make sure that folks have safe places to stay."

• "Hopefully, as we're making adjustments and maybe some other programs are making adjustments, nobody's going to be left without what they need. But it certainly requires a certain degree of agility on the part of service providers like ourselves."
• Kangas adds that the center would be upset if it saw people being displaced from their communities, but he doesn't believe it'll happen.

One daily services provider the city works with, Noah at Central , is in the draft footprint near Grand Circus Park.

• It'll need to be closed on Thursday due to the draft, so expanded hours and services at the Pope Francis Center will assist, David Bowser, the city's chief of housing solutions and supportive services, said in an emailed statement.

Another provider, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries , told Axios in an email that it doesn't have anything planned around the draft "outside of our normal services and resources."

• "We are in contact with the city of Detroit and available should they need additional support during the event."

Friction point: Last month, City Council President Mary Sheffield asked Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison during a draft discussion about the city's plans, given criticism around the Super Bowl — watch parties with food were hosted to clear people experiencing homelessness from streets.

What they're saying: "I just want to know what the plan is, if there is an effort to place individuals in housing, or just what the overall plan is so that there's not this negative commentary about how the city treats those who are unhoused for events of this size," Sheffield said.

• Bettison answered that the city's goal is to help get people services "every day" and not treat people differently because of the draft.

What we're watching: The city aims to spend $5 million more on services for those experiencing homelessness in its budget next year, including expanding permanent shelter beds.

• Overcrowding and days of waiting have been problems across the city, the Free Press reported .
• A 2022 count identified 8,500 people experiencing homelessness in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

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