Go-Getters in southwest Detroit provides a place to go during the day for homeless men and women who are often living with the effects of mental illness. It provides nutritious lunches, shower facilities, learning and recreational opportunities, and important support services to help homeless individuals begin the journey of recovery and reintegration into society. Go-Getters’ staff works with homeless persons to secure vital documentation so they can qualify for assistance and housing. Staff also works to connect them with Southwest Counseling services.

Go-Getters is open four days a week, Monday through Thursday, from 7 AM to 2 PM. It provides a warm and welcoming refuge. The center attends to the most basic of human needs. It offers food, warmth, companionship and safety. But Go-Getters is dedicated to much more than temporary relief. For homeless men and women, Go-Getters offers a hand up out of desolation. It enables them to regain a sense of who they are, so they can change their lives by accessing financial assistance, housing, counseling, and substance abuse treatment.

Go-Getters combines its homeless services with a consumer-run "clubhouse" model for adults with mental illness. In this supportive environment, consumers work together and contribute their talents and initiatives to further their own recovery and the recovery of others. Go-Getters offers an arts and music program and peer-led support groups.

Go-Getters provides free transportation to those in need of its services. It is located at 2640 West Vernor, Detroit, 48216. For more information, contact Shirley Cockrell, who heads the program, at 313.961.0677 or email her.

Because of funding cutbacks, Go-Getters has had to reduce its hours of operation and its services, including van transportation. These reductions are causing significant stress for the individuals that Go-Getters serves. (Read an article about the impact of the cutbacks.) Please consider helping. Use our online donation form and write "Go-Getters appeal" in the comments section. Or call Mary Madigan, Fund Development Manager, at 313.297.1371.

   Results

• Helps more than 70 persons a day
• Serves 1500 hot meals per month
• Helped hundreds of homeless persons take their first steps toward recovery

Since it began in 1995, the staff at Go-Getters has enabled hundreds of homeless men and women, many of whom have severe mental illness, to receive the services they need to end their homelessness and control their illness. Go-Getters’ staff and peer advocates have been this successful because they have a profound understanding of the despair of homelessness and the effects of mental illness, since they have been there themselves. Their own stories inspire hope and trust among the people they serve.

Go-Getters News Photo essay: The charitable spirit of the season Ford volunteers at Go-Getters and Larkins ELC (December 2011) Empty Bowls 2011 draws 150 people and raises $5000 for Go-Getters Celebration of the life of Melanie Ortiz (1952 - 2011) MGM Grand team donates and delivers food and items to Go-Getters Ford volunteers install community garden at Go-Getters (May 2011) New food pantry and kitchen improvements at Go-Getters help alleviate hunger Ford volunteers build food pantry at Go-Getters How Go-Getters stretches every dollar to help those of little means Illness Management and Recovery group lets consumers help each other to recover Artist Elizabeth Sutton teaches at Go-Getters Homeless Drop-in Center Read Shirley Cockrell's story, in a speech she delivered at Solutions at Sunrise Go-Getters consumers hurt by cutbacks Counseling programs cut by 10% because of state cutbacks Photography classes at Go-Getters taught by Oneita Porter Shirley Cockrell named "Consumer of the Year" by BHPi Fox2-TV profiles our Supportive Housing program and Go-Getters Fox2-TV story on Love Ezell's family reunion at Go-Getters Go-Getters moves into Vernor facility as Fisher Clubhouse closes Crain's: Flinn Foundation grant to Southwest Counseling for illness management Mental health "2008 Empowerment Day" draws 400 consumers