What’s new: While homelessness remains unsolved in our community (and many others) there are multiple tools available for neighbors to know about, use and/or share.
Why it matters: It takes all of us to create a place where everyone is welcome, included and thriving.
- Utilizing the available resources in our community ensures that money is better invested, time is better spent and people’s needs are better met in a dignified way.
Dig deeper: Here are the available resources that you can learn more about, volunteer with or utilize to address your relationship with homelessness:
- 211
- Is the community resource hotline. You can call 211, text 898-211 or click on the link above to get started with the intake process or direct someone in need to the resource.
- Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness
- Utilizes the nationally recognized Housing First model to coordinate local housing opportunities.
- Housing Kent
- Operates on a collective impact model centered on the expertise of lived experience.
- There is no one who knows homelessness better than those in our community who have experienced it and everyone plays a role in pursuing solutions.
- The Homeless Outreach Team
- HOT is out in the community daily, making rounds, engaging with unhoused neighbors and connecting people to community resources.
- Shoutout to neighbors in Plaza Tower Condos who have created monthly donation packages for HOT to distribute!
- Community Rebuilders
- Recently partnered with DGRI, the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County to create a Geographically Targeted Housing Outreach program to reach people on Monroe Center.
- The report details the process of moving unhoused neighbors to permanent housing. If you are looking to learn how this works, take time to read this report.
- AYA
- Provides resources specifically for youth experiencing homelessness with a number of supports to navigate systems in a lens of rest, readiness and resources to build resiliency.
Did we miss a community partner organization? Email me to share so we can grow this resource list for neighbors!