Reflect on the holiday season by listening to this year's final episode of Groundcover Speaks. We're also talking about the state of homelessness in Washtenaw and calling on listeners to take action.

The new year isn't here just yet, but this episode gives us a preview of what to expect in 2026: public power ballot initiative in Ann Arbor and cash payments to families in Ypsi. We're also reflecting on the holiday.

This episode is themed for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! We recap the impacts of the long government shutdown and how the community responded to frozen SNAP benefits — in addition to some amazing essays and interviews on local homeless experiences.

This episode examines happenings at the state level that impact low-income people in Michigan. A statewide ballot initiative to fund public schools, a bill that will cover SNAP shut offs in November, and a campaign to end solitary confinement in jails and prisons.

October means Halloween, domestic violence awareness, and the beginning of the holiday season. Listen also for an inspiring story about a tenant who fought her landlord for discrimination —- and won!

This episode is chock-full of local news -- listen to reports on an assault at the Beer Cooler, a sale of the Ann Arbor Observer, a groundbreaking of affordable housing, and a student-run homeless resource fair.

Fall is nearly here — this episode offers fun outdoor activities in metro Detroit, along with an audio journey to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. We're also reflecting on leadership changes at the Shelter Association, and reporting on the causes and consequences of homelessness.

In this episode we look at the who and what of harm reduction and crisis response in Washtenaw County, and how that's supporting people experiencing homelessness in our community.

This issue highlights workers at Ozone House organizing for a stronger voice, the Shelter Association welcoming a new director, and community responses to federal crackdowns on homelessness. We also cover local food security efforts, emergency preparedness in a season of extreme weather, and stories from our vendors.

This episode looks at solutions to homelessness from a variety of perspectives: rental assistance, affordable housing development, and daytime shelters. In Washtenaw County some of these options are growing, some are shrinking, but many are stagnating.