The Empowerment Plan has been in service to metro Detroit’s homeless population since 2012. 

Empowerment Plan employs people living in shelters. They manufacture coats made from sleeping bags that they distribute to people in need. That includes people in Detroit, across the nation, and in dozens of other countries. 

Veronika Scott is the founder of Empowerment Plan. She talks about her struggles with poverty and homelessness as a kid. She remembers driving around with her mother, getting sent in circles from one caseworker in Detroit to another in Pontiac. 

Years later, a class at College for Creative Studies called “Designing to Fill a Need” led her where she is today—and that’s helping people experiencing homelessness.

This year, Empowerment Plan hand made its 100,000th sleeping bag coat. 

Veronika, founder of Empowerment Plan joins host Tia Graham on The Metro to talk more about reaching this milestone and what’s next for organization.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

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Covenant House Michigan has been serving the state’s homeless youth population for nearly 30 years. 

For the past 12 years, the organization has hosted “Sleep Out Detroit”. The annual event is a part of an annual movement held across the globe. It’s also during National Youth Homelessness Month.  

On November 20, more than 100 people will camp out to financially support and bring awareness to youth homelessness.

CEO Megan Dunn and Detroit-based artist and public speaker Phillip Simpson joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about “Sleep Out Detroit” and the importance of spreading awareness.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro