Announcements from CoC Staff
NEW CALENDAR INVITES FORTHCOMING
Please note that our team is in the progress of deleting and reissuing calendar invites for all CoC committee meetings over the next few weeks from our new shared email address, khc@hwmuw. This transition stems from our rebranding efforts and a desire to build organizational sustainability.
This change will ensure that all committee meeting communications come directly from the CoC and can be seamlessly managed by multiple team members. As our organization evolves, this approach will help maintain continuity and reduce disruptions to our community partners.
If you are part of any CoC committees or workgroups, you will be receiving new calendar invitations over the next few weeks. Please accept invitations for any committees you participate in. If you no longer wish to receive invitations for a particular committee, please RSVP “No” to be removed from that calendar series.
If you would like to join a committee and recieve its corresponding calendar invitations, please reach out.
We appreciate your patience as we shift the calendar invites over. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Maddie Martin via email at mmartin@hwmuw.org.
Community Resources
NEW PROGRAM AT THE SALVATION ARMY : KENT COUNTY HOUSING SUPPORT
The Salvation Army has a new program available to the community: Kent County Housing Support (TBRA). The program will support households in search and secure housing, identify goals, strengths, and needs. This program offers rental assistance and case management support from 3 – 18 months depending on need.
This program is designed specifically for households that meet HUD’s Category 2 Homeless definition. Current leaseholders may be referred; however, if they owe back rent, they must have a plan to resolve it. This program provides assistance with future rent only. Households that are unable to resolve outstanding rental arrears will not be eligible for assistance.
To qualify, households must:
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Have a source of income- at or below 60% AMI
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Have their last permanent address located in Kent County, outside the City of Grand Rapids limits.
Referrals are made through Coordinated Entry. Households interested in being assessed can call 616-454-5840. As always, completing an assessment does not guarantee a referral or program opening.
If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Westhouse at samantha.westhouse@usc.salvationarmy.org or Todd Furlong at todd.furlong@usc.salvationarmy.org.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA COOLING CENTERS FLYER
An official list of cooling centers for the Grand Rapids area has been compiled for the summer season. Please refer to the attached flyer for locations and details.
Important note: This list is subject to change throughout the summer. The flyer, and any updates, will continue to be shared in this weekly newsletter for easy-access.
Upcoming CoC Committee Meetings
COORDINATED ENTRY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 15 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
In Person: Kent County Community Action
DATA QUALITY WORKGROUP
Thursday, September 17 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Virtual
DATA ANALYSIS COMMITTEE
Thursday, September 17 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Virtual
STEERING COUNCIL
Friday, September 18 | 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
In Person: Heart of West Michigan United Way
OUTREACH WORKGROUP
Tuesday, September 29 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Virtual
Upcoming Community Events
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY’S COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR
September 18 at 11 AM – 2 PM at Grand Rapids Public Library – Main Library
Meet with more than 20 local organizations offering support and information on a wide range of services, including housing, health, personal safety, and other essential community resources. This event provides an opportunity to connect directly with organizations dedicated to helping individuals and families access the supports they need.
OAK GROVE CEMETERY MEMORIAL FOR GRAND RAPIDS’ UNCLAIMED NEIGHBORS
September 19 at 10:30 AM at Oak Grove Cemetery; entrance at Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Join the community for the 3rd annual memorial at Oak Grove Cemetery (2531 Kalamazoo Ave. SE) honoring Grand Rapids residents who died unhoused or without family able to claim them — nearly 400 people buried in an unmarked section of the cemetery over the past decade. Organized by death care worker Sarah Sun, the gathering includes laying fresh flowers, reading the names of the deceased aloud, and an open time for attendees to share words, songs, or prayers. All ages are welcome.
ARBOR CIRCLE’S END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION
September 29 at 4 – 6 PM at The Bridge – Arbor Circle
Join Arbor Circle for an afternoon of connection, community, and conversation at The Bridge, Arbor Circle’s emergency shelter for youth. Explore Arbor Circle’s continuum of youth services—from street outreach and emergency shelter to counseling, family support, housing assistance, and connections to community resources. Tour The Bridge, meet members of our team, and learn how these coordinated services help young people find safety, build stability, and move toward a stronger future. This is a free event, but registration is requested.
Upcoming State & Federal Events
WEBINAR: TRAUMA INFORMED CARE – PAIN MANAGEMENT & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
September 14 on Zoom from 1-2:30 PM – $35
The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness is hosting a training for professionals who provide direct services to persons experiencing poverty or homelessness. This training will discuss the multifaceted nature of pain, including the psychology of pain, the relationship between trauma and pain and the importance of understanding pain management in client services.
WEBINAR: SUPPORTING CLIENTS WITH VITAL DOCUMENTS
September 21 on Zoom from 10-11:30 AM
The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness is hosting a webinar to discuss how to help remove barriers to civic participation by helping clients access vital documents in Michigan. Participants will learn about Michigan-specific processes for securing vital documents, strategies for overcoming common barriers, available resources and partnerships, and how document access supports voter registration and civic engagement. Whether you are assisting clients with obtaining identification for the first time or replacing lost documents, this session will provide actionable tools to help ensure the people you serve can access their rights, services, and opportunities.
WEBINAR: HOUSING FOCUSED STREET OUTREACH IN PRACTICE: LESSONS FROM MIAMI, FL
September 23 at 2 PM on Zoom
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is hosting a webinar to share recent research by Florida International University on new investments in promising practices can improve the housing outcomes of street outreach programs. These approaches can be successful alternatives to criminalization. Staff from the Miami-Dade Continuum of Care and three local outreach providers will join for a panel discussion and Q&A about applying these lessons to their work.
WEBINAR: INCOME, SERVICES & STABILITY – STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORTS THAT KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED
September 29 at 3 PM on Zoom
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is hosting a webinar to discuss how income, benefits, and supportive services help people obtain and maintain housing over time. It centers on stability as an outcome, not just placement. The conversation will explore workforce and income strategies, SOAR and access to benefits, supportive employment models, and behavioral health engagement. The emphasis is on reframing income and services as tools that support housing stability, rather than prerequisites for housing, and strengthening the connections that help people remain housed.
CSH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SUMMIT
April 6-8 in Denver
In April, the Corporation for Supportive Housing is hosting a housing summit with the theme: Ready for What’s Next: Innovation, Resilience, and the Future of Housing Stability. Through expert‑led sessions, immersive site visits, and cross‑sector collaboration, the Summit accelerates innovation, elevates proven practices, and strengthens the future of supportive housing nationwide.
State & Federal Resources
NEW REPORT: LIFE AFTER SUPPORTING HOUSING
National Alliance to End Homelessness shared a new tool that empowers Permanent Supportive Housing residents self-assess their readiness to transition to independent living. Providers can use this tool to provide consistent, structured help to people who are interested in leaving PSH. Check out the tool and the Alliance-supported research that informed it.
MCAH LEGISLATIVE TRACKER TOOL
Find current advocacy opportunities and email templates, look up your legislators, view current bills, and see how your legislators have voted on recent legislation.