On the front lines of Heartside homelessness

Homelessness is something most people don’t want to talk about. Or, they think it’s something that happens somewhere else. The scope of homelessness in West Michigan reaches far beyond what most realize. In 2008, 6,022 people were homeless. That number has presumably risen since that time due to unemployment and inflation. Yes, we have a homelessness problem in Grand Rapids.

“In the heart of Grand Rapids, a few blocks from burgeoning urban developments and a growing community of business professionals, exists one of the poorest neighborhoods in Grand Rapids,” explains Guiding Light Executive Director Stuart Ray. “The Heartside neighborhood is both racially and culturally diverse, and its neighbors represent the greatest cross section of homeless and destitute citizens of Kent County.”

Guiding Light Mission provides emergency services by offering day shelter and meals to men, women and children, as well as overnight shelter for men -- nearly 70 each night. They average 6,700 meals per month and nearly 66,740 meals are distributed to local charities and emergency food basket providers.

“Spend a day in our organization and you just begin to understand,” says Ray as he chats about what life is like on the streets.

Not only does Guiding Light Mission provide shelter, the charity also offers a Christian-based, residential substance abuse and life recovery program known as The New Life In Christ Program. This program, formerly known as the S.T.A.R.T. program, is designed to instill in its participants the skills and values necessary to rejoin the community and reclaim their lives.

They are changing the face of homelessness one life at a time. You can listen to the stories of some of the men they have worked with through testimonials. Surely, you want to help put the good back in do-gooder. You can. Here’s how:

·         LIKE them on facebook
·         Learn more about the nonprofit organization
·         View their fact sheet. It will certainly surprise you.
·         Hear stories of men on the street
·         Volunteer
·         Make a donation

Source: Stuart Ray, Guiding Light Mission; Jessica Manfrin, Guiding Light Mission
Writer: Jennifer Wilson, Do Good Editor