KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A Grand Rapids organization has a big goal: To get 100 unhoused people off the streets in 100 days.
Called "100 in 100," the campaign was announced Thursday by the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness and aims to get 100 unhoused people into homes in 100 days. The goal is to find permanent housing solutions and services.
Multiple Kent County organizations are participating, including Degage Ministries, Mel Trotter Ministries, Dwelling Place, Catherine's Health Center and more.
Thelma Ensink, executive director with Degage Ministries, said the campaign is needed after Kent County saw an increase in homelessness since the pandemic.
"Housing is something that is very important, and it's very scarce all across our country, but specifically here in Grand Rapids and Kent County, and so we're just inviting the community to join us in this effort," Ensink said.
Statistics show those in the unhoused community have higher death rates and are more likely to go to the emergency room because they don't have a regular doctor.
There will be an opportunity to volunteer to help with this initiative and donate to support the effort. Ensink said the size of the Grand Rapids community means more people want to get involved and make a difference.
"We're just so gifted to be able to have a community that wants to collaborate and to whom, you know, homelessness and housing is such an important topic," she said. "We really do not want anyone to be outside, to be unsafe or to be in an emergency shelter. We want everybody to be housed."
The goal is to get people in housing starting in September. You can follow along or sign up to volunteer here.
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