Archive for September 2021
Support Services for Individuals at Ampersee Encampment
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care is coordinating a partnership of community service agencies offering support to help individuals at the Ampersee encampment transition to safer, more stable shelter. The encampment has grown significantly in recent months, with many inhabitants coming from outside of Kalamazoo. Law enforcement and support workers report increased incidences of violence,…
Read MoreIMPACT! Driving to Financial Stability
For many people in poverty or Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), financial stability starts with learning how to manage what income they’re able to generate. Lily Missions Center provides financial management training through the support provide by United Way. Here’s a heartwarming success story: A family came Lily Mission Center’s drive-thru food pantry who…
Read MoreIMPACT! Empowering Homeownership
Owning a home is considered a key element in “the American dream.” But for many individuals and families, it’s a hurdle too high for countless reasons. Our partner, Community Action Agency, has developed a unique, community-based approach that empowers people to homeownership. Here’s one example: CAA met with a young married couple who had four…
Read MoreStatement: Closing of Ampersee Encampment
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care, a partnership of local government and community service agencies coordinating housing and services for houseless families and individuals, supports the decision to close the Ampersee encampment and provide safer shelter for those affected. The encampment, which has grown to 180 people, has become known in other unhoused communities as…
Read MoreIMPACT! Recognizing the Value of Relationships
A lifetime of success, including a rewarding career that provides financial stability, begins with the right kind of guidance at a young age. Our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County helped one young man reflect on how his pathway changed for the better: Jim and his “Little,” Mark, have been matched for…
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