It's getting harder to operate a shelter for the unhoused as their numbers increase. Representatives of two of Kalamazoo's most recognizable shelters tell Housing Matters what might work to bring those numbers down.
Prospective homeowners must be first-time home-buyers, pre-approved by a mortgage lender, represented by a Realtor, and have participated in at least one of three home-buying workshops conducted at NACD. Beyond that the process to obtain one of the four homes is first-come first-served.
Kalamazoo Together for the Unhoused raised enough money for around 91 people to get 2,600 pounds of laundry done. It's part of their mission to bring dignity to those who find themselves without permanent lodgings.
HOPE Thru Navigation broke ground on the project on April 2, 2024, using a small plot of land it purchased from the City of Kalamazoo at the southeast corner of North Street and Westnedge Avenue. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tiny Houses of HOPE Development is expected this month.
Does the increasing number of unhoused people in Kalamazoo reflect the county's population? Or are people coming from elsewhere? And are there enough services available to provide for the growing needs?
What do an "unhinged" taco-buying customer, a spoken word duo, and dancers from Move with Joy have in common? They all recently came together to raise awareness and funds for down payment assistance for Edison neighborhood homebuyers.
"Some days it doesn't feel real." That's the reaction David Harris has when he surveys the house that he now calls his own after years of being unhoused.
The enduring impact of racism on affordable housing in Kalamazoo illustrates a direct link between past injustices and present-day housing struggles.
Ten manufactured homes will be going to ten families with school-aged children, families who've experienced homelessness and are at 60% area median income.
The City of Kalamazoo is working with Kalamazoo County to develop strategies to fund projects to help struggling families to find good housing. The intent is to use $1.2 million in federal funding to connect and amplify existing community resources, and to inspire additional investment in them in order to help struggling families to find good housing.
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