West Michigan Grantmakers Create $2 Million Emergency Assistance Fund

Sixteen western Michigan grantmakers have pooled their resources to create a $2 million fund to provide temporary emergency support for basic needs in the region, the Grand Rapids Press reports.

To date, the fund has distributed grants totaling $1.3 million in the areas of housing assistance ($798,958), food assistance ($461,836), and support for the 211 information and referral line ($46,000). Relying on the expertise of the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force, the fund has moved quickly to get money into the hands of people and organizations that need it. According to Grand Rapids Community Foundation program director Kate Luckert Schmid, last month participating grantmakers suspended the fund's application process until November so that they could review data and determine where the greatest needs now lie.

One organization that has received money from the fund is Community Rebuilders in Grand Rapids, which will use its $380,000 grant to provide assistance to a hundred and forty families. According to Community Rebuilders executive director Vera Beech, the fund's grant requirements are more flexible than public funds, which often stipulate that individuals receiving money be homeless.

"Nobody wants to have to become homeless to get help," Beech said. "It's much more cost-effective to keep people housed than it is to have them relocate."

King, Kyla. “Grand Rapids Foundations Pool Resources to Help Households Survive Economic Crisis.” Grand Rapids Press 9/01/09.

Primary Subject: Human Services
Secondary Subject(s): Community Improvement/Development, Economic Crisis
Location(s): Michigan

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