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Salvation Army assistance programs Detroit and Wayne County

Updated October 21, 2025 • 6 min read • 1,263 words
Focus Immediate Financial Assistance

Salvation Army Detroit and Wayne County and assistance programs.

  • number of Salvation Army centers are located in the Wayne County area of Michigan, including in the greater Detroit region. Some of the locations can provide qualified families with emergency assistance for basic needs or help with paying bills or rent. There are also free items like Christmas gifts or Thanksgiving meals, access to a homeless shelter, cooling stations during the summer, and school supply giveaway events.

Find details on these as well as other Salvation Army programs in the Wayne County MI area. Resources are focused on helping people overcome the barriers to self sufficiency while also giving them a short term boost, such as financial support. While the number of assistance programs from the Detroit area Salvation Army are wide ranging, the services are flexible and can be individualized to the needs of each person.

Emergency financial help from Salvation Army in Detroit region

Housing assistance is offered by Detroit Salvation Army centers . As the faith based charity is a key member of the Detroit community in trying to stop homelessness. Funds from various programs are used to stop clients from being foreclosed on or from being evicted. Funding is limited for paying bills such as rent, and is really offered in an emergency. Applicants will need to stop by a nearby Salvation Army Social Service center. They need to have a notice of foreclosure from their bank or mortgage company, or have a 5 Day Pay-or-Quit eviction notice from their landlord. People will be screened by a Salvation Army case worker to determine whether they can qualify for rent or mortgage help, and you may want to call in advance to see if they even have any money available to help with housing costs. Otherwise you can look here for other places in Wayne County MI that help pay rent . If you are found to be eligible, then additional appointments and often a more in depth application will be required. If the Wayne County Michigan Salvation Army approves your application, a check that can be applied to your housing expenses will be mailed directly to the mortgage company, landlord, or bank who is owed the funds. Transitional housing and shelters for the unhoused are available. The focus of many transitional housing programs is to remove the barriers to self sufficiency while helping address their short term housing needs. Any support from transitional housing is individualized to the needs of each client, single parent, or low income family. Transportation services are also available and were designed to assist women and low income families in transition from homelessness to independent living or they can even help them get to the units. Or find more transitional housing programs located in Detroit . Salvation Army Detroit utility assistance will provide funds and emergency aid to stop disconnection of your utilities. Or financial help can be offered to reconnect your primary heating or cooling source. The main programs to pay utility costs are known as People Care and Share the Warmth, and it is mainly used to cover fuel oil costs as well as bills from local electric and gas utility companies. You can apply during the summer for help with paying cooling bills, or winter for heating expenses. Energy conservation and weatherization is also provided by the eastern Michigan Salvation Army centers from the Warm Training Center

Free Salvation Army distribution evens for basic needs

Many centers offer free food, groceries, or meals . Most limit households to applying at once every 30 days to request food from the pantry. The amount of support available in the Michigan area will vary and the exact portions, or quantity, provided by the Salvation Army will depend on the amount of donated items and stock on hand. They will also consider your household size. Conditions need to be met by applicants and potential clients. For example, anyone seeking food or groceries will need to bring a current government issued picture ID. You also need to have the names, ages, and genders of all household members, as well as proof of income. If it is your first time applying you will also need to more than likely provide information on household expenses such as utility bills, rent/mortgage expenses, phone and food costs. Most Salvation Army pantries and shelters also offer free hot meals from a soup kitchen throughout the day. This can include breakfast, lunches, or access to a soup kitchen, including for homeless people in Detroit. Any member of the local community may visit the food pantries or shelter areas for a meal or even a bag lunch or emergency food basket. The case management process arranged long term needs as well. Everything from employment to SNAP food stamps, snacks for children from low income neighborhoods in Detroit, and other longer term support can be arranged too. The Salvation Army even can direct families to meals when school lunches are not offered . Holiday and Christmas assistance is provided, with a focus on families with children ages 0-11. Qualified applicants can receive food, Xmas toys, coats, and other items for free. The Angel Tree program can distribute other clothing items as well. Free school supplies are distributed by the Salvation Army Wayne County Area Command. Once again, the focus is on serving the less fortunate in Wayne County and eastern Michigan area. Many items are given out to students in partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District. Resources are offered for children, and they will help people get back to school using this assistance program in partnership with other programs in Detroit for clothes or school supplies which may help parents. Several locations throughout Detroit Michigan are available for the community to donate new school supplies. These donated items, books, pencils, clothing and school supplies are then distributed for free by The Salvation Army centers to the needy.

Detroit area Salvation Army Corps centers contact information

Each location has their own social services. Whether it is a free food pantry, low cost thrift or Family Store, money to pay bills, employment services, clothes, or more. The main Salvation Army locations in Wayne County Michigan are below. Call a center in your area. 11325 Montrose Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48227, call 313.835.3736 The Harbor Light Center is at 3737 Lawton, Detroit, Michigan 48208, dial 313.361.6136 3000 Conner St, Detroit, MI 48215, telephone 313.822.2800 3729-89 West Chicago Rd, Detroit, MI 48206, call 313.897.2914 1258 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, phone 734.282.0930 The Social Services from here are focused on the Dearborn Heights area and the address is 26700 West Warren Ave, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 main number 313.563.4457

  • main Salvation Army thrift store for bargains is at 1627 W Fort St, Detroit, MI 48216. Call (313) 964-3639