Grand Rapids court eviction prevention team hosting job fair

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids will host its first ever job fair Friday.

The job fair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first floor assembly room at the Kent County Courthouse on Ottawa Avenue NW .

Job seekers will have the chance to meet with major employers like Cascade Engineering, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids Public Schools and the sheriff’s department.

The job fair is the brainchild of the 61st District Court Eviction Diversion Team , which brings together community resources to resolve housing disputes in ways that minimize harm. The goal of the event is to help people create financial stability.

“Working with individuals that are in an eviction crisis, we see that they are either unemployed or underemployed,” Eviction Diversion facilitator Kimberly Brown explained.

“That’s the majority of the complaints we hear (is) that they’re not making enough money to sustain housing, so we’re like, ‘Listen, let’s do something about it,” added Eviction Diversion facilitator Gjenikwa Gonzalez.

Hosted by the Eviction Diversion Team with support from the Urban League of West Michigan, Hope Network and Express Employment Professionals, the job fair follows an employment readiness event late last month at which people got help to prepare resumes and practice for interviews.

Questions about the job fair may be directed to 616.632.5597 or edi@grcourt.org .

—News 8’s Susan Samples contributed to this report.

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