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Board approves $300,000 partnership with Good Samaritan Ministries for eviction prevention, with step-down funding and admin cap
Summary
After public testimony and discussion, commissioners approved a three-year partnership with Good Samaritan Ministries to provide eviction prevention services, amending the contract to a $150k/$100k/$50k step-down schedule and permitting up to 10% of funds for administration; the board also required documentation of client eligibility.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved a partnership agreement with Good Samaritan Ministries to support the county eviction prevention program using $300,000 from the board initiatives fund, with amendments adopted on the floor.
Nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, including Michelle Van Dyke (Heart of West Michigan United Way) and Christie Carlin Knech (Redland Family Office), described the program’s outcomes and urged the board to approve the contract to preserve housing stability, reduce shelter costs and support case management. Knech’s testimony highlighted program effectiveness and philanthropic matching interest: “Eviction prevention is one of the most cost effective interventions…preventing a single eviction avoids downstream costs in emergency shelter, child welfare involvement, school transportation, and health care.”
Commissioners adopted an amendment that structured county disbursements as a visible three-year step-down (year 1 $150,000; year 2 $100,000; year 3 $50,000) while keeping the same $300,000 total appropriation, and approved allowing up to 10% of grant funds to be used for administration in recognition of nonprofit operating needs. The board also voted to add contract language requiring Good Samaritan to request documentation indicating client legal eligibility for services — the nonprofit told the board it already collects Social Security numbers, ID, leases and payroll records to verify eligibility. The amended motion passed on roll call and the main motion to approve the partnership (as amended) carried.
