GRHC Community Partner Organizations
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 - Booth Family Services, phone:
616/459-9468. Emergency assistance, including food, clothing, furniture, utilities, prescriptions, transportation and rent. Emergency shelter. Health and dental clinics. Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
United Way's 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: 616/451-2744. Services include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, specialized counseling for victims and assailants, and long-term transitional housing.
Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, phone: 616/454-0928. Provides affordable housing as well as supportive services to those facing challenges to housing stability, including single women and mothers with young children.
Emergency Food Assistance
ACCESS of West Michigan, phone: 616/459-4681. Oversees and supports a network of food pantries in Kent County, Michigan.
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, phone: 616/454-8249. Food and clothing assistance.
Kent County Department of Human Services, phone:
616/247-6000. 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 - Booth Family Services, phone:
616/459-9468. Emergency assistance, including food, clothing furniture, utilities, prescriptions, transportation and rent. Health and dental clinics. Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
ACSET (Area Community Service Employment and Training Council), phone: 616/336-4100. Offers food assistance, homeless housing assistance and utility shut-off assistance.
Eviction Prevention Assistance
Kent County Department of Human Services, phone:
616/247-6000. 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.
ACSET (Area Community Service Employment and Training Council), phone: 616/336-4100. Offers food assistance, homeless housing assistance and utility shut-off assistance.
Grand Rapids Urban League, phone: 616/245-2207. Offers counseling, advocacy and direct services to residents faced with obstacles to employment, housing or education.
Search for or List Rental Units Available through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Michigan Housing Locator
Free service provided by 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.
Additional Housing and Service Links
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Major funding source and technical support for GRHC programs.
City of Grand Rapids. Official web site 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.
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Professional association that advocates and educates, with the goal of strengthening communities by ensuring the availability of affordable housing.
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.
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.
ACSET Latin American Services. Assists the Hispanic community of Kent County, Michigan. Provides referrals to housing programs and counseling for home buyers.
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. Social services for the Hispanic community: employment, interpretation and translation, information and referrals, language and cultural training.
Home Repair Services. Resources for low-income home owners, including critical repairs, the construction of access ramps, a tool library, affordable building materials and home maintenance classes.
Kent Regional Community Coordinated Child Care (4C). Child care referrals and information on selecting quality care. Information about financial assistance for families using child care. Parent education, resource library.
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.
Restorers, Inc. A collaborative of churches and neighbors that serves the Madison-Hall neighborhood, offering rent and utility assistance, employment services, "financial freedom" classes and a youth program.