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How COTS Detroit is helping at-risk families achieve stability and success  | One Detroit 

October 12, 2026

COTS Detroit, a nonprofit offering emergency shelter and supportive housing services, is celebrating a decade of its "Passport to Self-Sufficiency" program by publishing a report called "COTS is Care. " The document chronicles ten years of work helping families facing homelessness or housing instability achieve stable living situations. CEO Cheryl Johnson discusses how the program tackles intergenerational poverty, while participant Shoushanna Simpson shares her experience of transitioning from living without basic utilities like heat and hot water to building a more promising future for herself and her children through the initiative's support.

Who is affected

  • Families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in Detroit
  • Shoushanna Simpson and her children (program participant)
  • COTS Detroit (non-profit organization)
  • Cheryl Johnson (COTS CEO)

What action is being taken

  • COTS Detroit is releasing a publication titled "COTS is Care"
  • COTS is marking/celebrating the 10th anniversary of the "Passport to Self-Sufficiency" framework
  • Host Stephen Henderson is speaking with Cheryl Johnson and Shoushanna Simpson

Why it matters

  • The "Passport to Self-Sufficiency" program addresses generational poverty and provides a pathway for families to move from unstable, unsafe living conditions (such as homes without heat or hot water) to stable housing and improved life prospects. The ten-year milestone demonstrates sustained impact in helping vulnerable families achieve self-sufficiency and break cycles of poverty and homelessness.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com

How COTS Detroit is helping at-risk families achieve stability and success  | One Detroit