Ministry with Community has been operating a day time shelter at its current location on Church Street in Kalamazoo for 30 years. But growing demand for their services has created the need for a new building.
Executive Director Rob Oakleaf says Ministry with Community is serving more people who are employed and have a place to live. He says people use services such as free laundry. Oakleaf says there won't be an expansion of services in the new building, but there may be more opportunity to work collaboratively with other organizations.
Oakleaf says the organization continues to work to help people become self-sufficient. He says that includes finding transportation to and from employment, and helping with services like finding a copy of a birth cerfiticate. Oakleaf says that will continue to be the goal of Ministry with Community at its new facility.
Many of those who work at Ministry with Community are former clients. Oakleaf says there is still a challenge in finding work for people that can help make ends meet. He says there are still few opportunities for people who lack education or may have a criminal conviction on their record.
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Ministry with Community has raised $4.2-million of the $6-million goal needed for the new facility. Oakleaf says ground breaking is scheduled for this summer, with plans to move into the new building by mid-2016.