On November 26, Covenant House Michigan – Grand Rapids (CHMGR) opened its doors to 12 young men, welcoming its first cohort to the newly built space. Through a $4.5 million campaign, with a $175,000 gift from the Steelcase Foundation, the residential facility provides young men and women a safe place to call home, and support services to assist them in finding a job, finishing school, and learning skills to help them live on their own.
The new facility can accommodate 28 residents age 18-24, and receives referrals for youth in need of housing and support services from community partners such as HQ, 3:11 Youth Housing, and Mel Trotter ministries. The House has moved slowly and thoughtfully, first filling the young men’s floor, to allow staff to become acclimated with the new space and build a culture of trust with a small cohort before adding women residents.
As Pam Spaeth, chief operating officer of the Grand Rapids campus told us, “The greatest joy for me has been experiencing the respect, grace and kindness each of these young men bring to CHMGR. I didn’t expect the receptive spirit and genuine desire to excel, exceed, and succeed… It’s with tremendous gratitude we at the House start each day with hope for our youth.”
We’re so grateful to the staff and community partners who helped make CHMGR a reality to provide much needed shelter and support services for homeless youth in Grand Rapids.
