Please share the following details widely within your networks, especially with individuals who are currently unhoused or have recently been housed. Your support in getting this information out to those who need it most is greatly appreciated!
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care is currently in the process of developing a Comprehensive Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Kalamazoo County. As part of the process, UWSCMI will be hosting a series of community engagements throughout the week of September 29 to October 3, 2025, in partnership with Michele S. Williams, LLC (MSWLLC).
We invite you to join our listening sessions to help shape the strategic priorities that will guide our community’s response to homelessness. Your living experience is the foundation of effective solutions. This listening session is designed to hear directly from you about what’s working, what isn’t, and what changes would make the biggest difference. We want to ensure your voices are heard and included in the plan.
NOTE: Individuals with lived or living experience of homelessness will receive $75 for attending one of the following: the Monday session, any of the Tuesday sessions, or either of the Public Forum sessions.
Session Details:
“Your Data, Your Story” – Data Session For people with living or lived experience
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
Time: 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Housing Resources Inc., 643 W Crosstown Pkwy, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Parking: Open parking lot
What we’ll discuss:
- Review of previous data strategies and their impact on your community
- The experience of having your data collected
- Local data and how well it reflects the system you experience
- Strategies to build a data culture that is respectful, transparent, and accurate
- How data can be used to advocate for better services and policies, and better serve the community’s needs
“Voices of Experience” – Listening Session #1 – living experience
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 9:30-11:30am
Location: Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, 448 N Burdick St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Parking: Open parking lot
What we want to hear about:
- Your experiences navigating housing and support services
- Barriers you’ve encountered and how they might be addressed
- Services and programs that have been most helpful
- What safety, dignity, and housing stability mean to you
- Your vision for how the community can better support people experiencing homelessness
“Pathways Forward” – Listening Session #2 for lived experience and recently housed
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 1:30-3:30pm
Location: The Douglass Community Association, 1000 W Paterson St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Parking: Open parking lot
What we want to learn about:
- The transition process: what helped and what created challenges
- Ongoing support needs for maintaining housing stability
- How services could better meet people where they are
- Success stories and lessons learned
- Recommendations for improving the housing and support system
We understand that some participants may need to bring their children, and they are welcome to attend. Light snacks will be provided.
MSWLLC will offer an open door, drop-in session if you are unable to attend during the scheduled time.
Drop-In Session
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Location: The Douglass Community Association, 1000 W Paterson St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Parking: Open parking lot
Questions? Contact us at coc@uwscmi.org
Can’t attend in person? Alternative participation methods may be available. Please contact us to discuss options. Need accommodations? We are committed to ensuring these sessions are accessible to all community members. Please let us know how we can support your participation.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Public Forum: Community Voices, Shared Solutions
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: El Concilio, 2501 Millcork St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Parking: Open parking lot
Forum highlights:
- Community input on priorities and strategies
- Information about how to stay engaged in the planning process
- Small group discussions on key community concerns
- Community feedback on strategic directions
- Information about next steps in the planning process
Building Partnerships for Housing Solutions
Landlord & Developer Focus Group
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: United Way of South Central Michigan
Parking: Open parking lot
What we’ll explore:
- Barriers to housing individuals and families experiencing homelessness
- Incentive programs and support systems that work
- Property management challenges and solutions
- Innovative partnerships between public and private sectors
- Policy recommendations to increase housing accessibility
Friday, October 3, 2025
Leadership Alignment for Systems Change” County/City Administrative Leadership Focus Group
Public Forum: Community Voices, Shared Solutions
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Location: Portage Parks and Recreation, 320 Library Ln, Portage, MI 49002
Parking: Open parking lot
Forum highlights:
- Community input on priorities and strategies
- Information about how to stay engaged in the planning process
- Small group discussions on key community concerns
- Community feedback on strategic directions
- Information about next steps in the planning process
Questions? Contact us at coc@uwbckr.org
Can’t attend in person? Alternative participation methods may be available. Please contact us to discuss options. Need accommodations? We are committed to ensuring these sessions are accessible to all community members. Please let us know how we can support your participation
