From Crisis to Stability: Walking Alongside Our Neighbors This Homelessness Awareness Month

November is Homelessness Awareness Month - a time to reflect on the challenges our neighbors face and the many paths into and out of homelessness. At Community Action House, we’re walking alongside neighbors like Robert*, Allison*, and Amanda*, whose stories remind us that every neighbor’s journey is shaped by different challenges, circumstances, and dreams for the future.

As housing costs rise and affordable options remain scarce in our community, more of our neighbors are left with no choice but to live outdoors. It’s not a matter of preference - it’s a matter of limited options.

At Community Action House, our team is working on both fronts: meeting urgent needs with compassion and tackling the root causes of housing instability through long-term, collaborative solutions. So far this year, we’ve already walked alongside 88 families – 111 neighbors – who moved from homelessness to safe housing, and helped 25 families avoid foreclosure. Each story looks different - because every person’s path to stability is unique. This month, we’re sharing a few of those stories:

Robert’s Story

When our Outreach team first met Robert,* he was living outdoors, facing what felt like an impossible list of barriers. Robert began visiting the Community Kitchen and Refresh, where he found nourishing meals, hygiene services, and support from our team on next steps. With determination, he overcame several hurdles and obtained critical documents, then connected with our friends at West Michigan Works!, and secured employment!

Even with a steady job, Robert still couldn’t find a place to call home. He worked closely with a recovery coach, submitted housing applications, and persisted despite processing delays and long waitlists. Months later, he received a housing voucher - only to have the program shut down, forcing him to start his search all over again.

Robert continued going to work each day for months, and would end his day without a safe place to return to. After another round of applications, he was denied housing because his income was too high to qualify, even though he was still living outdoors. This is the reality many of our neighbors face: they’re working hard, doing everything they can to move forward, yet safe, affordable housing remains out of reach. In the United States, over 40% of individuals experiencing homelessness are employed (Meyer et al., 2021).

Through every setback, Robert had faith that a home was soon within reach, and with continued encouragement from his community, found new momentum and connected with our partners at Good Samaritan. They provided additional support on his housing search, and earlier this year, Robert moved into safe, stable housing!

Now thriving in his new home, Robert has become a Food Club member with access to fresh, healthy food, and earlier this year he worked with our VITA team to file his taxes - one more step toward a stronger financial future. Robert’s determination over the years opened the door to a brighter future, and with a community walking beside him in compassion and collaboration, he's moving forward with hope.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Allison’s Story

Earlier this year, a sudden crisis left Allison* without a safe, stable place to call home. As a Food Club Member, she knew she could turn to our team for support. She quickly began working with our Resource Navigation team to secure the documents she needed to pursue housing and employment. We walked alongside her as she filled out job applications, and provided a voucher to our Resale Store, ensuring she had the clothes she needed for interviews. Soon after, Allison shared excitedly with our team that she had found a job!

Despite being employed, Allison continued to live without stable housing. She began working with our partners over at Good Samaritan to submit housing applications, but was denied due to an outstanding utility bill from a previous residence. To continue moving forward, our team helped Allison appeal the decision by submitting a receipt of the payment, along with letters of recommendation. With this additional support, Allison’s application was accepted and she moved into her apartment!

Now with safe, stable housing Allison has continued as a Food Club member, ensuring she has access to the fresh, healthy food she needs to thrive! With her basic needs met, she’s able to show up for her new job with focus and confidence, and she’s continued partnering with our Financial Wellness team to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and plan confidently for the road ahead. With a safe place to call home and a community of support in place, Allison is moving forward with hope and momentum.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Amanda’s Story

Amanda* met Financial Wellness Specialist, Tabitha, during a crisis. She had fallen behind on her mortgage, and her family’s home was scheduled for auction. While they couldn’t stop the sale, Tabitha encouraged Amanda to take advantage of the foreclosure redemption period - an option many homeowners don’t realize they have when facing foreclosure.

In Michigan, if your home is sold at an auction, you have a six-month redemption period to take action. During this time, you can either buy back your home by paying the amount owed on the mortgage, or sell it at fair market value. If you sell the home during this period, you keep the profits after settling the outstanding mortgage balance. Without Tabitha’s expertise, Amanda wouldn’t have known this was an option and would have soon faced eviction. But with Tabitha’s guidance, Amanda sold the home and used the equity from the sale to purchase a new home with only a small loan - giving her family a stable foundation where further progress is possible.

At Community Action House, our Financial Wellness team is here to help - equipped with the expertise and compassion to guide families toward real solutions. The sooner a neighbor reaches out, the more options we have to protect their home and financial future. Early intervention is better for families facing foreclosure – and it’s better for our community. Preventing homelessness is far more effective, affordable, and dignified than responding after crisis hits. No one should have to navigate these challenges alone, and with the right support and financial education, a path forward is always possible.

*Name changed for privacy

References

Meyer, B., Wyse, A., Grunwaldt, A., Medalia, C., Wu, D. (2021). Learning About Homelessness Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data. The University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. https://bfi.uchicago.edu/insight/research-summary/learning-about-homelessness-using-linked-survey-and-administrative-data/