Sold-out charity event to raise money for supportive housing in Detroit

COTS is an organization whose goals are to help people build and maintain stability by helping with emergency shelters, supportive housing and overall support for men, women and children.

Since its beginnings in 1982, the organization has been able to provide shelter for a growing population of people experiencing homelessness in the city of Detroit, mostly through individual contributions. 

Read more: COTS celebrates 40 years of helping Detroit families

COTS Chief Development Officer Aisha Morrell Ferguson spoke with CultureShift about the current state of homelessness is the city of Detroit. 

“At the end of the day, regardless of what you’re going through, regardless of what your circumstances are, you deserve housing, you deserve to be safe. You deserve to feel secure, you deserve housing. And so that’s where we start.” — Aisha Morrell Ferguson, COTS

This week, the organization is hosting an event to highlight Detroit art and culture while raising money to support their housing initiatives. Tickets for SoupCity Live 2023 are sold out, but the organization is still accepting donations for their cause online.

Ferguson says she’s excited to gather as a community for this event for the first time since 2020.

“We have a silent auction that features a variety of great finds, including some travel for those that want to get back out and see the world in creative ways.”

Along with a local food vendors, there will be performances by Alexander Zonjic and Friends, featuring blues icon Thornetta Davis and The Motor City Horns.