Family Promise urges Kentwood leaders to address hidden family homelessness

Tanesa Frye, CEO of Family Promise of West Michigan, told the Kentwood City Commission on May 20 that the nonprofit is working to end family homelessness and is seeking municipal partners and possible city-owned sites for temporary shelter. "Our mission is to end homelessness for children and families," Frye said, outlining Family Promise's mix of diversion, shelter and housing programs.

Frye said Family Promise served 957 families last year—about 3,590 individuals—and identified 52 families from Kentwood, which she said represents roughly 6 percent of the total and equates to about 193 people, about 65 percent of whom are children. She said West Michigan needs roughly 80 emergency shelter rooms for families but Family Promise currently has about 50–51 rooms available. "We need 80 rooms of emergency shelter. Currently, we have 50 rooms," Frye said, and described an overflow list of 26 families she said are unsheltered and sleeping in cars or places not meant for habitation.

Frye outlined program approaches including diversion services (problem-solving, short-term financial assistance and case management) and a home-ownership pathway through a Partners in Housing program that invests in manufactured homes and transfers title to families after rehabilitation. She asked commissioners to consider municipal allocations and to notify her organization about city-owned properties that might be repurposed temporarily to shelter families.

Commissioners thanked Frye for the presentation and discussed potential connections between the city, faith-based partners and community organizations. No formal action or funding commitment was made during the meeting; commissioners instead expressed interest in exploring partnerships and follow-up connections with Family Promise.