First two people housed through 100 in 100 Kent County program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — People are starting to be housed through the 100 in 100 Kent County initiative, and now, leaders are asking for the community’s help.

Those who have experienced homelessness know just how hard it can be.

“Having to rely on other people for housing or taking your kids in is the roughest thing you can ever deal with. It’s embarrassing as well,” said Roniell Kirkendall, who experienced homelessness.

Kirkendall said the COVID-19 pandemic ended her progress in the food industry, which ultimately resulted in her facing homelessness.

“Was on my way, started in 2017, and then boom, flatlined,” Kirkendall said.

Now, she’s in emergency housing and expects permanent housing soon, but she knows many on the streets who can’t say the same.

“Some of these people have been sitting here for four years. That’s too long,” Kirkendall said.

The 100 in 100 Kent County initiative was recently launched to help 100 people facing chronic homelessness find permanent housing solutions in 100 days.

This month, the first two people within the program found homes, with around four more people expected to be housed at any moment.

“The whole goal of this initiative is reducing the amount of time that people are spending on the streets,” said Courtney Myers-Keaton, director of the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness.

The initiative is powered by a group of public and private partners, with most funding for housing coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

It’s not just about putting people in housing, but also having strong case management that ensures people have resources to stay housed.

“It’s a transition to go from being chronically homeless, living on the streets or living in a shelter, and living in your own home again. So we want to make sure they’re feeling confident and feeling ready,” said Thelma Ensink, executive director of Dégagé Ministries.

Myers-Keaton says as teams work to get more individuals off the streets, there’s still some work to do.

“It’s taken a lot of leg work to make sure we have landlords that are engaged, that are willing to set aside units for individuals, that we have different types of vouchers we can offer people,” Myers-Keaton said. “We need some additional funding, which we are raising, people have been donating.”

She added that the goal is to accomplish 100 in 100 by Christmas.

“We said we’re going to do it, so we’re going to do it. We have the community’s support and the public will,” Myers-Keaton said.

She said leaders will take what was learned during the initiative and use it to combat homelessness more broadly.

Beginning Sept. 20, Storehouse will begin taking in donations for 100 in 100 Kent County. It will happen on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 4411 Plainfield Ave. NE .

Needed items include new blankets, comforters and pillows, new or lightly used dressers, queen bedframes, pans, nightstands and working microwaves.

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