This past year, the goals of the G.R.A.C.E. Network were not only to lift people out of homelessness but also to stabilize their health and mental health, increase food security, accelerate job readiness and employment, and support families with the resources they need to succeed. Together, the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the G.R.A.C.E. Network are creating a one-stop shop for accessing basic needs and connecting to resources that help families get back to self-sufficiency.

Families need affordable, safe housing and access to quality health care and support services if they’re going to have a shot at economic mobility and stability. But these services often operate in silos, making it difficult for families to access the help they need. We bring housing and health together to achieve results for the most vulnerable.

Over the last 12 months, the G.R.A.C.E. Network has resolved over 3,300 unmet needs in our community

Over the last 12 months, the G.R.A.C.E. Network has resolved over 3,300 housing, social, and health needs in our community. During this time, six new CBOs have joined the Network, helping us to meet even more needs in our community. Housing, food, health, and mental health services are identified as the most frequently unmet needs in our community. The G.R.A.C.E. Network strives to increase the quality of life of people in West Michigan by breaking down silos, building community, and connecting people with resources by working together, sharing data and information, and focusing on the needs of our community.

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Launched by Community Rebuilders, The G.R.A.C.E. (Gathering Resources Aligning Community Efforts) Network is a collaborative alliance of community-based organizations (CBOs) committed to working together more efficiently to end homelessness.

The G.R.A.C.E. Network was started by Community Rebuilders in 2019 to support a holistic and coordinated approach to aligning diverse services and resources, building community capacity with a shared vision of ending homelessness, and improving health and equity for families. The CBOs on The Network work together to provide services to individuals and families in the community to resolve homelessness faster and address their Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

This network was launched to promote collaboration, efficiency, and person-centered care among all participants, and connect families experiencing homelessness to services that address their Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and ultimately make family homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. The network intends to bridge across fields to make housing opportunities a shared priority for all partners on the network. The network is formed with the purpose of promoting access to safe affordable housing and the resources and supports needed to maintain stability and live fulfilling lives in our community. All partners on the network have a shared vision and see how their work or priorities fit with the goal to bring about a new reality where homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring in Kent County

Community Based Organizations