When Bob Brandeau, an elder at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, first heard about the Congregation Partnership Program (CPP) from fellow parishioner Jan Shray, who proposed participating in the program at an elders' meeting, his initial response was cautionary.
"I had had a personal experience in the past with helping a neighbor on the edge of homelessness," Bob recalls. "It turned out not to be a great experience."
However, Bob says he believes God planted the seed in his heart with that experience and he felt led to inquire further into the CPP. So, Bob attended a Volunteer Training session, which the CPP offers several times a year at Housing Hub in Grand Rapids. After that training session, he was hooked.
"My initial concern about the program was 'This is too good to be true; there has to be a catch,' " Bob chuckles. "There are no catches. I appreciate the organized approach the CPP takes, and they don't push you (volunteers) to do more than you are willing to do."
Convinced that the CPP was a good fit for the mission of St. Matthew, Bob and the other elders had another big concern: the financial commitment to the CPP for rent assistance. Because of the time of year, the church's budget was already committed to other programs and ministries with little leeway for an investment in the CPP.
"Somehow, I think our pastor found a way to come up with the funds," Bob says.
Timing is everything. Ana and her four young children were at the end of their allotted time at a family shelter. A single mom taking evening classes to become a medical assistant, Ana needed the support and encouragement that the CPP and St. Matthew's congregation could offer to get her settled into permanent housing and a stable environment for her children.
Lead by team leaders, Jan and Bob, the congregation eagerly began supplying items for the family, who had very little in the way of furniture and other household items. Some of the Sunday school children wanted to get involved and, with the help of the teacher and youth leader, they organized a picnic with Ana and her boys at John Ball Park.
Early into the partnership with St. Matthew, Ana's oldest son required a lengthy hospitalization for a recurring medical condition. According to Ana, Jan spent hours sitting with her in the hospital to help comfort the young mother. "I really appreciated her being there for me," Ana says.
Besides the hospital vigils, Jan offered her friendship and caring heart to the family in other ways. "At Easter, she brought over a basket for each of my kids," Ana recalls. "And we talked to one another a couple of times a month."
"Ana is a tough, determined lady," Bob says. "In spite of the serious medical issues with her son, she was able to work through her financial obligations.
Determination is just one of the valuable strengths seen in program participants time and time again by volunteers and the Housing Resource Specialists (HRS) from Community Rebuilders. The HRS worked alongside Ana from beginning to end of the six-month process, incorporating the strengths-based approach which allows participating individuals and families to lead the way as they utilize their strengths to work through a housing crisis to housing stability. The family, the HRS, and the volunteers work together to build this resiliency.
Community Rebuilders HRS focus on obtaining housing with the family from the moment they first walk through the door. Once housing is obtained, HRS's support the family's housing goals so that within 6 months the household income is increased enough to stabilize housing long term.
"When a family has a volunteer support person, along with an HRS who is working beside them in their housing goals, it sets up a formula for success!" declares Community Rebuilders HRS. Anissa Casey.
The success of the Congregational Partnership Program would not be possible without the partnership of all those involved: the participating families taking the lead in their housing stability, the congregations who provide financial assistance and volunteers who walk alongside participants to encourage and inspire hope, the Housing Resource Specialist assisting with housing and supportive services, and the CPP staff that ensures the program runs smoothly.
There continues to be a great need for rapid re-housing services in Kent County. The CPP looks forward to bringing together more people from various faith backgrounds as one body working for peace and justice. Together we can learn, grow and help end homelessness... one family at a time.
"I had had a personal experience in the past with helping a neighbor on the edge of homelessness," Bob recalls. "It turned out not to be a great experience."
However, Bob says he believes God planted the seed in his heart with that experience and he felt led to inquire further into the CPP. So, Bob attended a Volunteer Training session, which the CPP offers several times a year at Housing Hub in Grand Rapids. After that training session, he was hooked.
"My initial concern about the program was 'This is too good to be true; there has to be a catch,' " Bob chuckles. "There are no catches. I appreciate the organized approach the CPP takes, and they don't push you (volunteers) to do more than you are willing to do."
Convinced that the CPP was a good fit for the mission of St. Matthew, Bob and the other elders had another big concern: the financial commitment to the CPP for rent assistance. Because of the time of year, the church's budget was already committed to other programs and ministries with little leeway for an investment in the CPP.
"Somehow, I think our pastor found a way to come up with the funds," Bob says.
Timing is everything. Ana and her four young children were at the end of their allotted time at a family shelter. A single mom taking evening classes to become a medical assistant, Ana needed the support and encouragement that the CPP and St. Matthew's congregation could offer to get her settled into permanent housing and a stable environment for her children.
Lead by team leaders, Jan and Bob, the congregation eagerly began supplying items for the family, who had very little in the way of furniture and other household items. Some of the Sunday school children wanted to get involved and, with the help of the teacher and youth leader, they organized a picnic with Ana and her boys at John Ball Park.
Early into the partnership with St. Matthew, Ana's oldest son required a lengthy hospitalization for a recurring medical condition. According to Ana, Jan spent hours sitting with her in the hospital to help comfort the young mother. "I really appreciated her being there for me," Ana says.
Besides the hospital vigils, Jan offered her friendship and caring heart to the family in other ways. "At Easter, she brought over a basket for each of my kids," Ana recalls. "And we talked to one another a couple of times a month."
"Ana is a tough, determined lady," Bob says. "In spite of the serious medical issues with her son, she was able to work through her financial obligations.
Determination is just one of the valuable strengths seen in program participants time and time again by volunteers and the Housing Resource Specialists (HRS) from Community Rebuilders. The HRS worked alongside Ana from beginning to end of the six-month process, incorporating the strengths-based approach which allows participating individuals and families to lead the way as they utilize their strengths to work through a housing crisis to housing stability. The family, the HRS, and the volunteers work together to build this resiliency.
Community Rebuilders HRS focus on obtaining housing with the family from the moment they first walk through the door. Once housing is obtained, HRS's support the family's housing goals so that within 6 months the household income is increased enough to stabilize housing long term.
"When a family has a volunteer support person, along with an HRS who is working beside them in their housing goals, it sets up a formula for success!" declares Community Rebuilders HRS. Anissa Casey.
The success of the Congregational Partnership Program would not be possible without the partnership of all those involved: the participating families taking the lead in their housing stability, the congregations who provide financial assistance and volunteers who walk alongside participants to encourage and inspire hope, the Housing Resource Specialist assisting with housing and supportive services, and the CPP staff that ensures the program runs smoothly.
There continues to be a great need for rapid re-housing services in Kent County. The CPP looks forward to bringing together more people from various faith backgrounds as one body working for peace and justice. Together we can learn, grow and help end homelessness... one family at a time.