FINANCIAL SECURITY
Creating Stronger Financial Futures for Every Generation
When you can’t afford the basics, everything else gets harder. Rent or groceries? A job interview or childcare? These are the kinds of trade-offs far too many of our neighbors face every single day.
In West Michigan, nearly 1 in 3 households struggles to make ends meet and it’s not for lack of effort. People are working, caregiving, trying, but the cost of living keeps rising, and opportunity too often stays out of reach.
Financial security is the foundation. And when that foundation is stable, people can focus on what’s next instead of just surviving today.
We work to reduce the pressure of poverty by addressing the systems and barriers that keep families in financial crisis.
What We’re Tackling:
Unstable or unaffordable housing
Limited access to jobs with livable wages
Disconnected support services that are hard to navigate
Overwhelming utility or childcare costs
Because it’s not just about income.
It’s about access. It's about systems. It’s about support.
Our work in Financial Security blends immediate relief with long-term momentum. We meet people where they are and help them take the next step.
Here’s how:
Stabilizing Housing
We focus on stability in housing by preventing evictions and helping families stay in their homes through initiatives like our Family Stability Program, which offers rental assistance, navigating resources, and case management.
Pathways to Employment
We focus on workforce development, job placement, and transportation supports, because stable employment is impossible without access to training, transit, and basic supports.
Improving Access to Public Assistance
We improve access to public benefits and basic needs through system coordination and program investment. Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides no-cost tax prep services that returned over $8.9 million to local households last year.
Connecting People to Help
Our 2-1-1 helpline provides 24/7 access to housing, food, utility assistance, and more. In 2023, over 78,000 calls came through across 15 counties in West and Northwest Michigan.
Financial Security isn’t just about surviving. It’s about building something better.
When people can breathe and when they’re no longer living on the edge — they can plan. Save. Dream. And participate fully in their families, neighborhoods, and future.
When a family avoids eviction, a child gets to stay in school. When a worker finds a job with benefits, a household finds stability. When people know where to turn, they don’t have to do it alone.
Financial security creates a ripple effect that lifts everyone.
Ready to Be Part of the Solution?
Whether you’re a donor, a volunteer, a business, or simply someone who cares, your support makes these outcomes possible.