"A family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States."*
Today in Kent County, over 9,000 families live in poverty, with the vast majority facing worst-case housing needs. Approximately every third child in Grand Rapids lives in poverty—of these, 79 percent live in substandard housing.
Or maybe let’s look at it a different way:
Every day, people down the road and people just across town are going home to nowhere, or going home to a structure that doesn't
meet health or safety codes. We have neighbors who would prefer to work than to be at home, because at least they can count on
having walls and working utilities on the job. Pick four kids from Grand Rapids, and on average, "home" is unsafe for at least one
of them. Maybe the roof is caving in. Or windows have broken glass. Mold has taken over. The furnace doesn't work.
Housing in West Michigan is the [X] in [XYZ], a key expression of our mission. Considering the scope and urgency of local housing needs, our efforts at solutions center on providing immediate and affordable housing. You can find out more about getting involved with [X] by contacting info@marshill.org, or you can give to [XYZ] at our online Joy Box.
Right now our projects are:
- Habitat Build #5 Blitz
- The Coalition to End Homelessness
*Source: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development [hud.gov]