Grand Rapids Housing Commission Community Partners

The Grand Rapids Housing Commission partners with a large and growing list of community agencies to meet the diverse needs of the families we serve. Below is a list of Grand Rapids area emergency service contacts, followed by links to a few of the many other organizations with which we coordinate programs and services.

Emergency Housing Assistance

The Salvation Army Social Services, phone: 616-454-5840. Emergency assistance, including homeless assessments and referrals. Also provides emergency food and utility assistance (utility assistance phone: 616-459-9468).

United Way 2-1-1, phone: 211. Refers people who need emergency assistance or information to available nonprofit human services agencies.

YWCA Domestic Violence Services, phone: 616-459-4652; 24-hour domestic violence crisis line: 616-454-9922. Services include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, specialized counseling for victims and assailants, and long-term transitional housing.

Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids. Provides affordable housing as well as supportive services to those facing challenges to housing stability, including single women and mothers with young children.

Eviction or Home Foreclosure Prevention

Community Action Partnership of Kent County. A division of the Area Community Services Employment & Training Council (ACSET). Offers food assistance, utility shut-off assistance, help with rental arrears and other services.

Grand Rapids Urban League. Offers counseling, advocacy and direct services to residents faced with obstacles to employment, housing or education.

Home Repair Services. Offers financial literacy workshops as well as foreclosure prevention counseling.

Community Rebuilders. Provides a variety of services that support the housing needs of low-income and homeless households.

Legal Aid of Western Michigan. Provides free legal assistance to low-income families and seniors in non-criminal matters. Offers counseling and advice, represents clients in cases with administrative agencies and in Michigan courts.

Services for Older Adults

Senior Neighbors. Services for older adults, including case management, emergency needs assistance, food and meals, health screening, legal assistance, recreational opportunities, transportation and volunteer opportunities.

Meals on Wheels Western Michigan. Offers a variety of nutrition services for senior citizens, including home-delivered meals, senior food pantries and congregate meal sites. Meals on Wheels operates on-site Dining Centers at three GRHC senior apartment communities.

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. Offers a variety of resources to help older and disabled adults live independently.

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Services for Veterans

Click U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to apply for benefits or update your information online.

Helpful Government Links

City of Grand Rapids. Official website of Grand Rapids, Michigan, with links to such civic services as police, fire, community development, and parks and recreation departments.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Leverages public and private partnerships to create and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Michigan residents.

United States Department of Housing & Urban Development. Major funding source and technical support for GRHC programs. Offers a variety of programs in support of affordable housing and affordable home ownership.

Other Local Housing Authorities

Kent Community Action. Administers a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

Wyoming Housing Commission. Administers Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Administers Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Homeownership programs.

Child Care Resource

Camp Fire West Michigan 4C, 233 East Fulton; phone: 1‑800‑448‑6995. Child care referrals and information on selecting quality care. Information about financial assistance for families using child care. Parent education, resource library.

Emergency Food Assistance

Feeding America West Michigan. Administers Mobile Food Pantry program and other food assistance services.

God’s Kitchen, 303 South Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, Phone: 616‑454‑4110. Offers emergency food service daily for up to 400 people.

Mel Trotter Ministries. Meal and shelter assistance.

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. Provides a wide range of social services and emergency assistance or help accessing available assistance: cash assistance, state disability, SSI, refugee assistance, food stamps, Medicaid health coverage, child day care information, assistance with home repairs, heat and utility bills, relocation.

The Salvation Army Social Services. Emergency assistance offered through a food pantry that serves the Kent County area. Also provides utility assistance.

Kent County Community Action. A division of the Area Community Services Employment & Training Council (ACSET). Offers food assistance, utility shut-off assistance and other services.

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Search for or List Rental Units

Michigan Housing Locator. Free service provided by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) makes it easy to search for properties that participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and other subsidized-housing programs. Property owners can also list rental units at no charge.

Home Ownership Resources

Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Leverages public and private partnerships to create and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Michigan residents. Services include home ownership counseling, down payment assistance, loan programs and the Michigan Mortgage Credit Certificate program.

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. Works with volunteers and prospective low-income home owners to build affordable homes in Kent County and eastern Ottawa County. Also offers low-cost home improvement materials, including fixtures, appliances and furniture.

Inner City Christian Federation. Nonprofit agency offers rental housing and home ownership programs, as well as an emergency housing program. Provides the home ownership training required by the GRHC's home ownership programs.

Home Repair Services. Resources for Kent County homeowners, including critical repair support for low-income residents, access ramps, bath modifications, home maintenance workshops, home inspections and a DIY kitchen remodeling program.

Additional Housing & Service Links

Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. Promotes equal housing opportunity and fair housing through education, research and advocacy services that include fair housing complaint intake, investigation and resolution.

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. Social services for the Hispanic community: employment, interpretation and translation, information and referrals, language and cultural training.

Baxter Community Center. Serves the Baxter neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Services include a child development center, a holistic health clinic and a youth mentoring program.

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