November is Homelessness Awareness Month—a time to deepen our understanding of homelessness, the many circumstances that can put housing at risk, and the role we can all play in helping our neighbors find a path forward.

Life can change in an instant. A sudden loss of income, an unexpected expense, or another challenge can disrupt the stability a family has worked hard to build. Right now, more families are finding there’s less room in their budgets to absorb the unexpected. One hard month can quickly become a crisis, but our community can change what happens next.

So far this year, 81 neighbors have moved from homelessness into safe, stable housing, and 17 families have avoided foreclosure with support from our team.

This month, we’re sharing the stories of Taylor*, Anna*, Walter, and Noah*, whose journeys show us what it can look like when life changes unexpectedly, and when a community shows up to change what happens next.

Taylor’s Story

Last year, an unexpected crisis left Taylor* without a stable place to call home. She never imagined she would experience homelessness, but one emergency was all it took to put stability out of reach. As a previous Food Club member, Taylor knew she could turn to our team for support.

When she reached out to us, Taylor had already begun taking bold steps toward stability. She was actively submitting housing applications, determined to move forward. But even with a steady job, the low rental vacancy rate in Ottawa County, coupled with rising costs made finding affordable housing incredibly challenging.

After months of applying alongside our team, Taylor was pulled off a housing waitlist and finally had a safe, stable place to call home! Since moving in, Taylor continued as a Food Club member, and she’s eager to begin partnering with our Financial Wellness team to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and plan confidently for the road ahead.

*Name changed for privacy

Anna’s Story

Earlier this year, Anna* and her children were living out of their car after an unexpected cut in work hours led to them losing their housing. Despite the challenge, Anna continued to work, care for her children, and hold on to hope for a brighter future.

When she connected with our team, we walked alongside her and our friends at Good Samaritan to help her apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program. After receiving the voucher, Anna began reaching out directly to private landlords, submitting applications, and doing it all while still working and parenting.

Her determination paid off. A landlord accepted her application and voucher, and Anna’s family finally moved into a safe, stable home! To help them settle in, our team provided a Food Club membership, a Resale Store voucher, a referral to Community Mental Health, and a connection to a local church offering hygiene and cleaning supplies. We’re deeply grateful for all of the agencies and community members who are committed to strengthening how we show up for families like Anna’s, together.

*Name changed for privacy

Walter’s Story

After living and working in Holland for most of his life, Walter found himself without a place to call home in 2020. He began connecting with our team at the Community Kitchen and Refresh, where we worked alongside him to secure the documents he needed to begin applying for housing.

As Walter took steps toward finding a home, a network of community partners came together to support him. Community Mental Health, Good Samaritan, and his church, Pillar Church, collaborated with our team to help Walter move forward. Through this support and his determination, Walter qualified for a Rapid Rehousing voucher and secured a safe, stable place to call home!

After moving in, Walter became a Food Club member, where he found affordable access to fresh, healthy groceries. Five years later, Walter is still living in the same home and continues to visit Food Club for healthy groceries. With the stability he's built, Walter now spends much of his time connecting with community by volunteering at Pillar Church and participates in our Healthy@Home classes.

With a stable home, access to healthy food, and a strong community of support, Walter continues to build a brighter future in the community he's always called home.

Our team works to keep families in their homes.

Noah’s Story

As the cost of living rises, more neighbors are feeling the effects of stretched budgets and shifting support systems. This year, our Financial Wellness team has seen more families in our community seeking out financial counseling—including Noah*, who reached out after an unexpected crisis left him at risk of foreclosure.

Determined to keep his family in their home, Noah partnered with our team to understand his options and chart a path forward. Together, Noah and our team navigated months of paperwork and unexpected roadblocks. In the end, Noah was able to refinance his mortgage—saving his home and giving his family the foundation of stability they needed to move forward.

Keeping someone in their home costs less than regaining housing after homelessness. Our programs help interrupt the pipeline into homelessness by lowering costs, building skills, and offering support that helps people stay stable. The sooner a neighbor reaches out, the more options we have to help them protect their home and financial future.

*Name changed for privacy