Writer Wields Pen to Help COTS Battle Homelessness

Detroit, Michigan – Diana Elarde is not a Detroit native. However, this recently relocated writer has connected with COTS, an established Detroit agency dedicated to fighting homelessness.

Now, the Plymouth resident donates her time and talents as a cost recovery specialist, trying to help COTS save money through more efficient document processes. While her left-brain was doing this, her right brain was up to something else.

A college English major and former teacher, Elarde never lost her love of the written word, vigorously rekindling her writing talents some four years ago and writing nearly 60 short stories since. One of them, “The Umbrella” is based on a story told to her by a COTS board member. It is about the realization that gestures and efforts we may view as charitable sometimes fall short, and we need to do more.

“We are very fortunate to have Diana Elarde working with us,” notes Lynn Wilhelm, COTS Chief Development Officer. “We are always looking for ways to get our message across, and hopefully Diana’s story will touch the hearts of people and encourage last minute giving."

“The Umbrella” is posted on the COTS website at: http://www.cotsdetroit.org/pr/TheUmbrella.pdf.


Founded in 1982, the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing and comprehensive support services for Detroit’s homeless population. Its mission is to alleviate homelessness by offering an array of services, which enable people to achieve economic self-sufficiency and decent, affordable housing. COTS provides nearly 50,000 nights of emergency shelter each year. Visit http://www.cotsdetroit.org/.