Kalamazoo, MI – Open Doors Kalamazoo is expanding its affordable housing program for low-wage workers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. “This expansion will allow 15 working families to avoid or overcome homelessness,” said Rick Stravers, Executive Director of Open Doors Kalamazoo.
The organization purchased a 15-unit apartment property at 3611 Duke Street in Kalamazoo. The property consists of three buildings with eight 2-bedroom apartments, three 2-bedroom townhouses, and four 1-bedroom apartments. Open Doors Kalamazoo was able to purchase the new property for $320,000 – a remarkable deal when you consider that it will provide homes to 15 households. An additional $52,000 worth of upgrades to the buildings are expected to be added including new roofs.
The purchase and upgrading of these apartments was made possible by a grant from the Vandomelen Foundation. “The Vandomelen Foundation provided the means for us to expand our capacity to serve families in need. For their support we are grateful. Through their support of Open Doors, the Vandomelen Foundation hopes to improve the lives of homeless children and their families” Stravers said.
Open Doors Kalamazoo now provides 95 units of housing to help low-wage workers avoid or overcome homelessness ranging from single rooms to studio apartments and 1- to 3-bedroom apartments scattered throughout the city.
Residents in Open Doors Kalamazoo’s affordable housing program enjoy affordable homes coupled with personal support for maintaining employment and stability. The cost is affordable to workers earning minimum wage.
“We recently were able to provide a 2-bedroom apartment to a mom with two children who has held a steady job for two years. She takes home about $1,000 a month and was paying $580 monthly for rent, leaving only $420 for all the other expenses for her family. In Open Doors’ housing she will now pay $350 monthly for a 2-bedroom unit,” Stravers said. The need for lower cost housing for working families facing homelessness is intense,” Stravers said. “We are grateful to the Vandomelen Foundation and all our donors and volunteers who make it possible for families like these to have stable, affordable homes.”
ABOUT OPEN DOORS KALAMAZOO
At Open Doors Kalamazoo we partner with low-wage working men and women to empower them to support themselves and their families and overcome or avoid homelessness. Through housing, partnerships, and advocacy, Open Doors Kalamazoo has been helping individuals and families overcome homelessness since 1970. We seek to provide solutions to the housing crisis faced by low-wage working families in our community. As families are strengthened, so is our community.
Links to News Articles Covering the Acquisition:
MLive Article: Open Doors Kalamazoo uses grant to purchase 15-unit apartment complex to help low-income families
Second Wave Media Article: Open Doors offers more affordable housing
Leave a Comment