Kent County's public, private and faith-based organizations and individuals working together addressing our citizens' basic needs.

The Kent County ENTF, with hundreds of non-profits, governmental agencies , faith-based organizations, funders and concerned volunteers has been working since 1982 to help Kent County’s most vulnerable citizens obtain the basics needed to be self-sufficient. For the last quarter century, it has developed and supported management of basic service systems such as food, shelter, utilities and transportation. During the next 25 years, the ENTF will continue to work on building and maintaining the local infrastructure that will help all Kent County residents move towards self-sufficiency and obtain what is needed for a decent way of life.

The Kent County Essential Needs Task Force continues working to ensure that shelter, food, utility and transportation resources are adequately available to all Kent County citizens. The information presented in this brochure provides an overview. The ENTF web page offers a broad array of detail on our work to prevent basic needs crises, and manage community based service systems using data and best practices. At the same time, the Task Force is even more strongly moving the focus of its work to strategies that address the causes of poverty that create basic needs crises.

Coalition to End Homelessness/ Shelter Subcommittee
Purpose: Working to end homelessness in the Greater Grand Rapids area by increasing homeless prevention, coordinating support services and ensuring access to affordable, quality, permanent housing.

Economic & Workforce Development Subcommittee
Purpose: Using information, economic and training resources to build low-income citizens' self-sufficiency.

Energy Efficiency Subcommittee
Purpose: Assuring access to affordable utility resources for Kent County's most vulnerable residents while promoting a culture of energy efficiency for all.

Food & Nutrition Coalition/Food Subcommittee
Purpose: To ensure that all people of Kent County have access to safe, affordable and nutritious food.

Leadership Subcommittee
Purpose: Providing day-to-day management support to ENTF direct service subcommittees.

Transportation Subcommittee
Purpose: Working to ensure economical, easily available transportation to meet basic needs.