The Ruth Ellis Center provides primary and behavioral healthcare, long and short-term safe space,supportive services, and essential resources for unhoused and at-risk LGBTQ+ young people in metro Detroit. The young people served by REC experience significant barriers to accessing health services; including 1) accessibility; 2) depression and anxiety as a result of multiple traumas; and 3) numerous social barriers such as HIV stigma, fear of rejection, and mistrust of mainstream health providers. To address these challenges, the Ruth Ellis Center currently operates six core services including:
(1) Drop-In provides low-barrier access to a full range of basic needs services and case management for LGBTQ+ young people who are experiencing homelessness, unstably housed, and/or experiencing food insecurity. (2) The Ruth Ellis Institute (REI) providing training, consultation, and coaching for organizations and systems of care that desire to engage productively with LGBTQ+ youth of color. (3) Home-Based Family Preservation Services designed to help a family navigate the challenge of embracing a child's sexual orientation or gender identity. The HWC expands existing mental health services by adding primary care and substance abuse disorder prevention and treatment to address the large numbers of LGBTQ+ youth who suffer because of the conflict, discrimination, and violence they often face from family and society. The HWC meets the critical unmet need of improving overall health and wellbeing outcomes for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness in Metro Detroit as a direct result of increased access to high-quality, culturally-competent health care at no cost. (5) Kofi House: Center for Le***an and Q***r Women and Girls (CLQ). The CLQ provides advocacy/outreach and case management services through an equity lens to empower girls and young women by providing a safe space and services to support health and well-being. (6) Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center: Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) facility. The Clairmount Center Apartments features 43 units with a mix of one-bedroom and studio units. The Ruth Ellis Center and Henry Ford Health offers onsite supportive services including primary care, case management, behavioral healthcare, and art therapy. Thirty-four of the project’s units are supported by Project Based Vouchers provided by MSHDA. Project Based Vouchers preference residents who are currently experiencing homelessness. Individuals experiencing homelessness must be referred by the Detroit Continuum of Care’s Coordinated Entry Process and complete an application. Eight additional units are reserved for residents at or below 50% of the area median income.
