Mayor, City Council launch $30M Renew Detroit home repair program to keep Detroiters in their homes

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and members of City Council announced the launch of a new $30-million home repair program to help low-income senior citizens and homeowners with disabilities receive major home repairs.  The program will effectively triple the amount of City-funded, owner-occupied home repairs each year.

The Renew Detroit program is the first initiative funded by President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which has provided the City with more than $400 million to invest in programs to improve Detroit neighborhoods, reduce intergenerational poverty and improve safety and quality of life. Detroit City Council approved the plan in late June to provide $30 million for essential home repairs for seniors.

Historically, the City has funded between 200-250 annual home repairs through its Community Development Block Grant at a cost of up to $6 million per year. Renew Detroit will spend up to $17 million to repair approximately 500 additional homes per year, bringing the total to up to 750 per year.

Phase one will focus on replacing 1,000 roofs.  Eighty percent of Senior Home Repair requests involve new roofs, by far the most urgent need.   Phase 2, expected to launch a year from now, will provide a major repair to another 500 homes.

Renew Detroit Program Application Details

For more information on the  Eligibility and Application Process, visit detroitmi.gov/RenewDetroit. Applications for phase one are available now through October 31 and can be filled out online or completed over the phone by calling 313-244-0274 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

Program Timeline

• Applications for Renew Detroit open October 1 and close October 31
• HPTAP/HOPE applications must be submitted by November 12 and must be approved by December 14 to ensure eligibility for Renew Detroit
• Approved applicants will be selected and notified by February 1, 2022
• Bids for roof repairs will go out in Fall 2021
• Repairs to 1,000 homes begin in Spring 2022 and will be completed within two years
• Phase two applications open October 2022 (tentative)

COVID-19 booster shots now available at City of Detroit vaccination sites

The City of Detroit is now providing the COVID-19 Pfizer booster shot following FDA approval. Fully vaccinated individuals may receive the booster shot if they completed their Pfizer vaccine series at least six months prior.  The booster is available only for residents who received the Pfizer vaccine.  Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are still awaiting approval.

Booster shots will be available at all City of Detroit vaccination sites, which include:

Weekday Appointments Only
TCF Center, Monday – Friday | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Weekday Appointment and Walk-in Locations
Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive, Monday – Friday | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner Ave., Monday – Friday | 2 – 7 p.m.

Clemente Recreation Center, 2631 Bagley, Monday – Friday | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Clark Park, 1130 Clark Ave., Monday – Friday | 2 – 7 p.m.

Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers, Monday – Friday | 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Weekend Locations
Greater Emmanuel Church, 19190 Schaefer Hwy., Saturdays | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

New Providence Church, 18211 Plymouth Road, Saturdays | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 5251 E. Outer Dr., Saturdays | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Triumph Church East Campus, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., Sundays | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Scheduling Appointments
Appointments are encouraged for all vaccination sites, call 313-230-0505 or schedule an appointment online at www.vaccinatedetroit.com.  Walk-ins are welcome. Bring vaccination card to appointment.

Third shots are available at all sites for all immunocompromised residents after 28 days following completion of their two-dose series of Pfizer and Moderna.  Anyone who is unsure should consult with a medical provider.

For more information, read the entire news release at detroitmi.gov/news.

Detroit Animal Care efforts successful to retain ‘no kill shelter’ status

The Detroit Animal Care (DAC) shelter continues to make it a priority to improve the treatment of animals in Detroit with proven success in keeping its ‘no kill shelter’ status. Since early 2020, The DAC shelter has had a live release rate of more than 90 percent consistently each month.

The efforts to remain a ‘no kill’ are more extensive for municipal shelters like DAC as they do not have the ability to turn away any animals and many that are brought in are malnourished, experienced abuse or have medical needs before they can be placed into adoption or foster homes.

The DAC’s ongoing partnership with many rescue shelters across the state has played a major role in its success. Since the inception of the partnerships in October 2015, the DAC has worked with many organizations regularly and has transferred nearly 8,000 animals to prevent overcrowding at the Detroit shelter and aid in providing urgent medical care.

Animal Care is urging all Detroit residents who own dogs to make sure their animals are secured, vaccinated against rabies, have a license and microchipped. For anyone interested in fostering or adopting an animal, go to the Detroit Animal Care shelter located at 7401 Chrysler Drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week, or visit the website at friendsofdacc.org

Meijer Rivertown Market set to open October 6

Mayor Mike Duggan got a sneak peek this week of Detroit’s new $16-million, 42,000-square-foot Meijer Rivertown Market on Jefferson Avenue just east of I-375. The market is set to open October 6.

City, community celebrate McNichols Streetscape completion

City and community leaders including the Live6 Alliance celebrated the completion of the McNichols streetscape project, part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund initiative, with a ribbon cutting Oct. 1. Through the partnership between the City and Live6, McNichols is shaping up to be the next destination corridor for new businesses and restaurants, new housing and parks, new educational opportunities and more.

Detroit marks “Hump Day” by adding yet another 350 speed hump locations to 2021 program

• Record-setting 2021 program will close with 5,550 speed humps, 1,000 more than originally planned

• 700 bonus locations announced two weeks ago; city now adds 350 more

• Installations resume this week with all 5,550 to be completed by mid-November 

The City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) this week announced yet another round of traffic calming speed humps will be installed before the end of this year, bringing the grand total to more than 5,500.

Earlier this year, Mayor Mike Duggan announced the City would install 4,500 speed humps on residential streets across the city to help address concerns about speeding and safety.  After a careful review of resources and requests, it has been determined still more speed humps can be added to the 2021 installations.

If a block wishes to opt-out of the program, a letter from the block club captain speaking on behalf of all residents on the block or a signed petition must be submitted by Friday, October 8. All requests and petitions to opt-out for a speed hump must be submitted through the City of Detroit website. For more information, or to opt-out, visit Traffic Calming | City of Detroit (detroitmi.gov)