Women's Shelter
Did you know that nearly half of the ho
meless we receive at our shelter are children? It is sobering to think of innocent babies, toddlers, elementary, middle-schoolers and teenagers wandering the streets with their mothers because of abuse, neglect, poor decisions or a crisis that left them homeless. We welcome them at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, helping them to discover the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. During their stay with us, we feed them three nutritious meals each day, provide them with bedding and personal hygiene items, clothe them and support them while they learn new job skills and find work. The women and children who stay with us have a bedroom, bathroom, lounge/common area, dining area, playground and laundry facilities to use while they are here. We can accommodate up to 54 women and children and they typically stay for an average of 30-45 days.
Self-sufficiency is one of the critical things we aim to impart to the women who stay with us. By teaching basic life skills, we help them understand how to budget their finances, assist with personal hygiene, guide them on social interaction and teach them accountability. We provide weekly one-on-one personal conferences and counseling if needed. Our staff is motivated to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the light of His truth shines through daily chapel services, support groups and Bible studies.
The Family Shelter, Women’s Shelter, and Singles Dorm clients are evaluated on a weekly basis. These clients are expected to be looking for jobs and housing daily. They attend classes for one hour each weekday to encourage healthier life skills and help them to become aware of community resources that are available to them. They meet weekly with a one-on-one person for accountability with their finances, job, and housing search. We also address any physical, emotional, or spiritual needs they may have. To assist our clients in their job searches we offer bus tokens and childcare. If the participants are doing what is required of them to stay at the Mission, their stay is unlimited. If they are not doing what is required of them their stay is limited to 30-45 days or less.
Your prayers are needed so that our program continues to be an effective outreach to women and children who so desperately need to know Jesus Christ.
