By WKTV Staff
The Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF), reacting to a need for more COVID-19 related family “stay-at-home” housing, announced this week that it has expanded its emergency shelter services with a recently renovated and opened 3-bedroom home in Grand Rapids immediately adjacent to its existing 5-unit emergency shelter, Family Haven.
According to supplied material, the new space was purchased from the City of Grand Rapids and allows ICCF to “serve and support additional families experiencing homelessness” during the current coronavirus conditions.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our neighbors experiencing homelessness are facing even more challenging obstacles to finding stable housing. Adding to our capacity at Family Haven at a time like this was the right thing to do,” Ryan VerWys, CEO and President of ICCF, said in supplied material. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer another place in our community where entire families experiencing homelessness can stay together in a safe, clean, welcoming environment while they find permanent housing.”
The new housing unit is a 3-bedroom house suitable for a small family, according to supplied material. The exact street location was not made public.
Renovations were completed with “tremendous support” from local churches, businesses, and volunteers. New mechanicals, including a new furnace, were donated by a local distributor. Plumbing and HVAC work was donated by DHE in Hudsonville.
The home was furnished with “generous donations” from Huizen’s Furniture, Estate Sales Warehouse, Ada Bible Church, Covenant Christian Reformed Church, and Berean Baptist Church.
ICCF is the oldest non-profit affordable housing provider in the state of Michigan, according to supplied material. Active in the Grand Rapids area since 1974, ICCF serves more than 2,200 households a year through its programs and services. Program offerings include Family Haven emergency shelter, 439 units of affordable rental housing, newly constructed homes for purchase, homeownership education and financial counseling.
For more information visit www.iccf.org.
