Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University alumna Courtney Smith is leading efforts to address youth homelessness in Detroit. Smith, using her education and experience, founded the Detroit Phoenix Center in 2016. This center, which serves young people facing housing insecurity, aims to address generational poverty and homelessness.

“It is a safe place built by young people, for young people,” stated Smith. “At Detroit Phoenix Center, we focus on using the strengths and talents of youth to help them create stable and successful futures.”

Smith, who graduated from EMU in 2014 with a sociology degree, was motivated by professors and her own experiences of housing insecurity to support young people in similar situations.

Smith has established a space where youth can express themselves. The Detroit Phoenix Center features a Youth Action Board, composed of young community members, which provides feedback on policy-making and strategies to engage youth effectively. “It's about respecting and nurturing their power,” Smith remarked.

The Detroit Phoenix Center offers various programs for youth, including SOAR Afterschool Enrichment, ROOTS Rapid Rehousing, the Blair Memorial Scholarship Fund, Summer Leadership Academy, Beyond The Ashes, and the Life Skills Program. Additionally, Smith launched Youth Up Mobile, a mobile center that provides support to youth in their communities.

Smith encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, saying, “Building anything from the ground up can be challenging, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Stick to your goals and be willing to adapt to what your community needs.”

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