Housing Resources Incorporated of Kalamazoo hopes to find housing for 80 families in the Kalamazoo area in time for the holidays.
The Home for the Holidays program was announced earlier this month. HRI Executive Director Michelle Davis said she had the idea last year when families in their shelter received donated gifts. Davis says she thought it would be better for those families to open those gifts in a home. She calls the goal of placing 80 families in housing "a little bit of a stretch," but realistic.
HRI is seeking $50,000 in donations, which can be made through its website. Davis says there is a shortage of affordable housing in the Kalamazoo area. She says they work with landlords to find available housing. Davis says they also work with families to remain in housing after they find a safe place to live. Davis says housing is tied into issues of poverty and education.
"Last year over the holidays there were 18 kids that woke up Christmas morning in our family shelter."
Davis says the face of homelessness is changing. She says many people think of a man "living in a cardboard box" when they think of homelessness. But Davis says there are working families that can't afford housing. "Last year over the holidays there were 18 kids that woke up Christmas morning in our family shelter." She says that's just a portion of kids in shelters in Kalamazoo County.
Asked what public policy changes are needed to address the issue of homelessness, Davis says hard data is needed about the availability of housing and the need. Despite the many problems, Davis says there are quite a few success stories. She says many of the people who come for assistance early, and never have to spend time in a shelter.
Davis says Housing Resources Incorporated often flies "under the radar" because it doesn't operate a large shelter. But she says they work to keep people from becoming homeless, or to make their stay in a shelter temporary.
