Partners Continue to Serve Unhoused Individuals & Families

The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care works to administer federal and state funding, as well as increase and better coordinate the services available for houseless families and individuals. These services include outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. The CoC’s goal is to increase data collection systems and efforts community wide, so that its 20+ partner organizations can use data-informed decisions to guide services, funding and resources, developing strategies and assistance programs to aid those at risk of or experiencing houselessness.

Last winter, partner agencies collaborated to address the needs of individuals living in encampments. When extreme cold hit the community and the emergency shelter system was limited in its capacity due to COVID-19, CoC partners launched temporary day and night shelter programs, assured supportive services (including a warming tent, portable lavatories, hygiene stations, etc.) and provided ongoing one-on-one case work to address individual needs. Read the previous summary here.

Halfway through 2021, the CoC is still striving to increase and coordinate resources to support those experiencing houselessness and at risk of houselessness.

“People are in need of stable housing year-round in our community,” said Sara Jacobs, Director of the Kalamazoo County CoC. “We will continue in the months and years ahead to address that need.”

Here is what the CoC partnerships and partners accomplished so far in 2021 and what’s happening now:

• Continued Outreach. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been widespread, and its impact on unsheltered individuals has been especially harsh, said Jacobs. Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo, and HOPE thru Navigation continue to have trained staff conduct outreach, including regular visits to encampment sites across the county to link individuals to services and supports. Basic supports such as portable lavatories, handwashing stations, and regular delivery of bottled water are currently in place at the largest encampment site.

• Day Shelter. Ministry with Community continues to provide day shelter and support services, including showers, laundry and breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

• Hotel Intervention Project. HIP was a temporary shelter project, led by Open Doors Kalamazoo in partnership with HOPE thru Navigation and Urban Alliance, intended to provide temporary housing while pandemic restrictions limited capacity at local shelters and there was increased risk of spring flooding at encampment sites. Barrier removal was a focus, with residents receiving support in obtaining IDs, accessing COVID-19 vaccines, and connecting to longer term housing programs and vouchers. Thirty-four individuals were matched with Emergency Housing Vouchers, 20 households were exited to permanent solutions, and five eligible households have been relocated to other hoteling using new Coronavirus Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) resources. Exits for this temporary hoteling effort were completed in phases, with approximately 50 individuals residing in the hotel as the final exit phase began the week of July 26. Exit interviews and client surveys were offered; for those who had not completed Emergency housing voucher sign ups to date, this was offered during the time of exit. All remaining participants have been offered emergency shelter at Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, which has current capacity for men, women and families. For those who decline a shelter option, equipment such as tents and totes have been provided.

• Emergency Solutions Grants. Funding was given to assist people in obtaining housing or regaining stable, permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis. Funds for 2021-22 totaling $506,063 were allocated in July to Housing Resources, Inc., Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, and Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo, supporting street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance, and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

• COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). In a collaboration between Housing Resources Inc., Integrated Services of Kalamazoo and Open Doors Kalamazoo, CERA provides direct financial assistance to households that fell behind on rent and/or utilities during COVID-19. So far, our county’s applications for support reached 162.1% of the expected expenditure goal. This program is ongoing; the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) increased the original $17 million slated for Kalamazoo County to $23 million.

• Emergency Housing Vouchers. This spring MSHDA released 47 additional Emergency Housing Vouchers to Kalamazoo County to address housing needs over and above the standard Housing Choice Vouchers. Housing Resources Inc. is administering these vouchers.

• Lantern House. This effort is led by Integrated Services of Kalamazoo and serves 15 individuals who have been in encampments. These individuals moved into a partnering apartment complex, and five have graduated to permanent, stable housing. This initiative also seeks to address specific needs among clients, ranging from addressing substance use and mental health needs to providing personal ID credentials to access other services.

• Lodge House. Construction on Lodge House, a LIFT Foundation project, has begun. This development will create 60 deeply affordable studio units, expected to be available in late January 2022.

• Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Application. In July, with the support of various youth serving organizations, the CoC submitted an application to become a YHDP community. If selected, a six-month community planning process would occur, focused on the needs of youth (age 24 and under) experiencing homelessness and the design of improved systems and programs to serve them. The request was for a two-year grant for $2.9 million dollars.

• Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries Expansion. Capital improvements underway are scheduled to be complete in October 2021, resulting in significantly increased capacity. There will be growth from 12 family suites (4 beds per suite) to 29 family suites, growth from 150 Emergency Shelter beds to 210, annual growth in case management capacity from 755 served to 1,225, and growth in number of guests provided with mental health & addiction supports from 460 to 550.

• RentAble Program Launch. The RentAble Program is a new pilot program operated by the Continuum of Care and supported by the City of Kalamazoo, Foundation for Excellence and Jameel Poverty Action Lab. It is designed to support renters and landlords in the City of Kalamazoo through the provision of a security deposit replacement, and is set to launch in August 2021.

Jacobs said the CoC remains committed to partnering on supportive services and resources that help people find safe, healthy and stable housing. “The CoC’s goal is to do everything possible to end homelessness in Kalamazoo County,” Jacobs said. “It’s a huge and complex effort, but it’s a very human one. No person should have to go a single day without a roof over their head. Our community is determined to make our vision a reality.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing houselessness or housing instability, dial 2-1-1 or visit https://gryphon.org/i-need-help/ for housing resources and referrals.

Questions about the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care can be directed to Sara Jacobs, CoC Director, at sjacobs@uwbckr.org.