COTS was established in 1982 to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Initially created to address the homelessness crisis in Detroit, COTS has since evolved to offer a comprehensive array of services, spanning from housing solutions to a transformative coaching program known as Passport to Self-Sufficiency™ (PTS).

PTS represents a poverty reduction and alleviation framework that is the foundation of all COTS programs and initiatives. At its core, PTS embraces a strengths-based methodology, empowering each family to collaboratively chart their journey out of poverty alongside a dedicated PTS Mobility Coach. It is a partnership grounded in the belief that every parent possesses the insight required to determine what self-sufficiency means for their family.

Within the framework of PTS, the PTS Mobility Coach works hand in hand with the head of the household to establish objectives across five key domains: Housing & Family Stability, Health & Well-being, Economic Mobility & Empowerment, Education & Job Training, and Employment & Career Development. These objectives are entirely participant-driven, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment. To facilitate progress, individuals receive both individualized and group coaching, gain access to resources from community partners, and are motivated by incentives, all aimed at nurturing economic self-sufficiency and creating stable living environments that yield a lasting, multi-generational impact.

COTS is the first organization certified in Mobility Mentoring®, a research-backed economic mobility coaching approach developed by Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath). Mobility Mentoring® empowers low-income families by offering a participant-centered, holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally competent approach to help individuals achieve their goals.