» Poverty Solutions convenes panel on youth-led rapid rehousing in Detroit

Panelists listed from left to right: Azaria Terell, Alan Jackson, Alex Simpson, Kharmesha Frost, and Robert Cooper.

By Karissa Knapp
Poverty Solutions at U-M

DETROIT — Every year, an estimated 1 in 10 youth between the ages of 18 and 25 experience homelessness in the U.S.. A new rapid rehousing program in Detroit – designed by youth, for youth – is providing housing and wraparound services for young adults.

To explore and highlight this work, University of Michigan Poverty Solutions and the Detroit Phoenix Center produced a documentary — Rapid Rehousing Designed By Youth, For Youth — and hosted a screening and panel that discussed the future of youth homelessness response in Detroit. About 45 service providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders attended the event, held at the U-M Detroit Center on May 1.

Panelists included:

Robert Cooper, senior case manager at Detroit Phoenix Center;
Kharmesha Frost, a youth rapid rehousing resident;
Alan Jackson, a member of Detroit Phoenix Center’s Youth Action Board and a former communications fellow at the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions;
Alex Simpson, the assistant manager for residential programs at Covenant House Michigan; and
Azaria Terrell, president of Detroit Phoenix Center’s Youth Action Board.

Jennifer Erb-Downward, director of housing stability programs and policy initiatives at U-M Poverty Solutions, moderated the panel.

The 12-minute film highlights the challenges young people are facing when trying to find stable housing, and the impact the youth-designed program is having in helping them do so.

Watch the mini-documentary

“Young people are the experts on our own experiences …” said Terrell, who opened the event. “We need to be a part of that solution on issues that impact our lives.”

Alan Jackson answering a question.

After the screening, panelists involved in the mini-documentary discussed the challenges youth and programs are facing, and how we can work together to address youth homelessness. Jackson said people working in human resources, social work, and government should do more to engage with people with lived experience with homelessness.

“Having an open ear to the community and most likely the youth, because the youth have a lot to also grow in and expand in. If they are told the right things, most especially by the right people, then a lot of change can most definitely happen.”

When asked about practical tips for engaging and working with youth, Terrell cautioned against “adultism.”

“It’s something that adults do where they push this criticism onto you, and they kind of make youth feel like they’re not welcome in spaces… saying ‘oh, you don’t have enough experience,’ you know, ‘you’re too young,’” Terrell said. “Make sure you’re power sharing… We have power. That’s why we’re here, that’s why we advocate. Your job is to make that space for us to share our power, for us to tell you our lived expertise because we have it.”

Courtney Smith concluding the event.

After the panel answered some questions from the audience, Courtney Smith, CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center, closed the event, thanking the panelists and attendees, and calling them to act in sharing more about this issue, the documentary, and to be an advocate in being a part of the solution to homelessness.

“This work is intersectional. We need to continue this type of conversation,” said Smith. “When you center those who are closest to problems as the ones driving the solutions, that is what can happen. We have a model that actually works… When we work together, and we are intentional, we can make a difference.”