Street Democracy proudly announces that its co-founder and Executive Director, Jayesh Patel, has been awarded the “Excellence in Homelessness Award” by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The award recognizes Patel’s innovative leadership in addressing homelessness through legal reform and community collaboration.

Patel was honored for his pioneering work on functional sentencing and for founding and continuing to lead the Street Outreach Court Detroit (SOCD) — a groundbreaking court program designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness resolve legal barriers while connecting them with supportive services.

“Street Outreach Court Detroit proves that justice and compassion can coexist,” said Patel. “This recognition from MSHDA honors the collaborative spirit of our partners, judges, and advocates who believe in second chances and systemic change.”

Under Patel’s leadership, Street Democracy has championed equitable justice models that focus on restoring dignity, stability, and opportunity for people who are unhoused or living in poverty. 
Street Outreach Court has become a national model for problem-solving courts, blending human-centered legal practice with social support to promote long-term success.  To date, Street Outreach Court Detroit has assisted  1,121 participants, closed 12,413 cases, and saved participants over $1,735,439 in legal financial obligations.

Oktoberfest event to support Wayne County CASA 

Wayne County CASA will host CASA Oktoberfest at the Stearns House on Thursday, October 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the historic Frederick Stearns House, 8109 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit.

For a suggested donation of $50 as a friend of CASA, attendees will enjoy live music, appetizers, and a cash bar all in support of Wayne County CASA, helping children who have experienced abuse or neglect find safe, permanent homes.

The event will feature performances by:

• Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge Frank Szymanski.

• Butch Hollowell

Wayne County CASA strives to ensure that children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect are in safe and permanent homes by recruiting, screening, and training volunteers to advocate on their behalf within the Third Judicial Circuit Court’s Family Juvenile Division.

To register for the CASA Oktoberfest, visit https://bit.ly/4qmewTb.

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