On a warm Saturday morning in August, a group of Detroiters gathered on Evanston Street not just to clean up a neighborhood, but to celebrate a new beginning. Better Way Detroit, in partnership with Elli’s House and supported by the DTE Foundation, hosted a community clean-up event that highlighted a year-round initiative offering paid employment to individuals experiencing homelessness.
The program provides more than just a paycheck. Participants are fed, mentored and connected to services for housing, medical and mental health care, and long-term employment opportunities. In return, they help clean parks and neighborhoods, assist local nonprofits like St. Vincent de Paul Detroit and Detroit Goodfellows, and contribute to making Detroit safer and more vibrant.
“At the DTE Foundation, we believe in investing in people and places,” said Rodney Cole, president, DTE Foundation. “Better Way Detroit’s model not only restores dignity through work but also strengthens the fabric of our communities. We’re proud to partner with a program that uplifts individuals while making Detroit a cleaner, safer and more compassionate city.”
For many, the community cleanup was a chance to see firsthand how organizational collaboration can create meaningful change.
Better Way Detroit continues to expand its reach, proving that with the right support, individuals facing homelessness can contribute to their communities and build pathways to stability. Through their efforts, participants inspire pride, ownership and a renewed belief in the dignity of work.
