Emergency Needs Task Force (ENTF)
118 Commerce Avenue SW, Suite 100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4106
Phone: (616) 752-8642
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 ensure that all Kent County residents have those things needed for a decent way of life.
The Kent County Emergency 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 webpage 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 focusing even more strongly on educating key policy makers, funders and the community about the need, the opportunities and their responsibilities to support this important work.
This 2006-2007 Annual Update Report marks a milestone for Kent County. In 1982, the Kent County Board of Commissioners responded to Governor Milliken’s call to bring the community together and help the needy during the most severe economic down-turn since the Great Depression. Human service, faith-based and governmental organizations responded to build an informal, cooperative organization - the Emergency Needs Task Force - that met the challenge. Kent County’s most vulnerable citizens weathered the storm. ENTF members saw the benefits of working together and have continued their collaboration for 25 years making subsequent hard times much less severe.
Please review this website, the work that has been accomplished during the last year and plans for both next year and the next twenty-five. Your decision to volunteer, donate, vote and advocate for initiatives supporting Kent County’s basic needs systems will ensure positive results of ENTF work to continue to make Kent County a good place to live.
Coordinating Committee
Purpose: Assessment of community needs, overall publicity and long-range planning.
Leadership Subcommittee
Purpose: Providing day-to-day management support to ENTF direct service subcommittees.
Food Subcommittee
Purpose: To ensure that all people of Kent County have access to safe, affordable
and nutritious food.
Coalition to end Homelessness/ Shelter Subcommittee
Purpose: Close the front door into homelessness. Open the back door out of
homelessness. Build the infrastructure to end homelessness.
Transportation Subcommittee
Purpose: Working to ensure economical, easily available transportation to
meet basic needs.
Utility Subcommittee
Purpose: Addressing utility emergencies, weatherization, conservation and
education.
