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.
Facts
- On any given night 700–800 persons in the Grand Rapids area are experiencing homelessness.
- 2007 Data from Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) shows the
following in Kent County:
· Homeless persons served increased 20%.
· Children were 33% of homeless in 2007.
· Singles increased by 42% from 2006 to 2007. - Of 1,015 at the 2nd annual Project Homeless Connect:
· 35% were experiencing their first episode of homelessness.
· 36% spent the previous night with friends or family.
· 516 signed up for permanent housing.
2007-2008 Accomplishments
- Aligned over $500,000 in HUD funds with the Vision To End Homelessness.
- Allocated $5 million in HUD operating funds to housing agencies in Kent County.
- Made changes for a more efficient and humane housing crisis response system.
- Established system-wide coordinated outcome metrics for programs serving homeless persons.
- Secured MSHDA/HARP, housing subsidy vouchers for more than 115 households.
- Piloted Congregational Partnerships program with GRACE and 10 congregations raising more than $84,000.
2008-2009 Agenda
- Change Kent County’s centralized housing intake to a Housing Resource Center, serving anyone in need.
- Partner with GVSU’s Community Research Institute for an Affordable Permanent Housing Inventory and cost analysis of homelessness.
- Realign funding to increase prevention and permanent housing.
- Expand Congregational Partnerships with new churches.
- Join the Michigan HMIS system, strengthening the local HMIS for data collection, analysis and reporting.
- Build new system partnerships for effective service delivery.
