The Kent County Board of Commissioners has voted to enter into a contract with Community Rebuilders for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing services. The Kent County Community Development Office will receive up to $116,376 for prevention and/or rapidly re-housing people and families experiencing homelessness, through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). ESG reflects the change in the program’s focus from addressing the needs of those experiencing homelessness in emergency or transitional shelters to assisting people to quickly regain stability on permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.
The contract was based on a review by the Grand Rapids/Wyoming/Kent County Continuum of Care.
Community Rebuilders is a non-profit agency established in 1993, focused on “ending homelessness and creating safe affordable housing opportunities in Kent County.” Community Rebuilders is an active member of the Coalition to End Homelessness, and works closely with other agencies in the county to help with the transition from homeless to permanent housing.
Nearly one-third of the funds will provide prevention activities. “More than half of the funding will be used specifically for rapid re-housing,” said Linda Likely, Director of Community Development and Housing. “We anticipate the funds will assist 20 individuals or households who are struggling with housing: specifically, those with incomes at or below 30% of area median income.” Community Rebuilders will work with the Salvation Army’s certified Housing Resource Specialist to identify housing arrangements, and the YWCA will work to provide rapid-rehousing services for those in need of support due to domestic violence.
The contract includes a pledge for a 100% match of funds from Community Rebuilders, meaning more than $230,000 could be used for services under the contract. “This is yet another way partnerships can help move Kent County forward and help families in need” says Chairman Dan Koorndyk of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “Our philanthropic community has been very supportive of our programs. Working together to find solutions sets West Michigan apart from other communities.”
The Housing Commission is also pleased to announce Kent County is eligible for another 19 vouchers through the Veterans Assistance Supportive Housing (VASH) Program. This program, funded by grants through HUD, has grown from assisting 50 veterans to 129 veterans in the past two years. Criteria for the VASH program are based on the homelessness the veteran is experiencing. Other considerations include families, veterans with disabilities, elderly veterans, and veterans returning from deployment. The Housing Commission is also engaging HUD’s “Family Self-Sufficiency” (FSS) program. This case management program helps those currently living in Section 8 housing, by encouraging families to increase earned income, reduce dependency on subsidies, and receive education, job training, and financial counseling, so they can obtain skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.
To learn more about these programs, contact the Kent County Department Community Development Department and Housing Commission, at 616-632-7400.
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