EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTERING

This first year of providing emergency winter shelter has shown the true power of partnership. By bringing together the expertise and resources of local government and nonprofits, we’ve been able to serve up to 100 unhoused individuals every night this winter season. This means people have a safe, warm place to be, and they’re getting connected to programs that can help address their specific needs so they can get back on their feet. Our hope is to keep building on this partnership so that no one has to worry about being unhoused.

BACKGROUND

The City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, and the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC) partnered to provide funding through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to address seasonal shelter needs. Those receiving funds:

• Ministry With Community – 80 day/overnight spaces (adults only), plus 11 more beds during extreme weather
• Dignity In Motion – 7 overnight rooms for medically vulnerable people (inc. pets)
• Housing Resources Inc. – Shelter coordination (Mon-Friday, 8am-4pm)

These funded projects launched on December 1, 2025, and continue through March 31, 2026. In addition, the CoC awarded further funding HRI to provide 24-hour shelter coordination services. Over and above this project, Kalamazoo County awarded funds in January to HOPE Thru Navigation for shelter for up to seven families through March 31.

Broad partnership is essential to tackling homelessness. For the first time ever, collaboration made it possible for our community to provide robust emergency shelter for the entire winter season. There’s immense potential to do even more.