First-of-Its-Kind Chronic Homeless Housing Program Reduces ER Visits by 65% in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 17, 2025 (Newswire.com) - Dégagé Ministries and partners gathered in its Heartside Landings building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan recently to review data from the first year of operations for Dégagé's housing program specifically tailored for women experiencing chronic homelessness. This pilot program, believed to be the first of its kind in the state and one of a handful nationwide, successfully retained all 25 of the women in the program and produced staggering outcomes that have the community eyeing potential growth of the program.
When it launched in January 2024 inside a former hospitality house in the homeless section of downtown Grand Rapids, stakeholders were concerned about the women's ability to thrive within its first year. The female residents who qualified for this program have experienced chronic homelessness for several years and have not stayed successfully housed even when placed in supportive housing. They have significant medical and mental health needs and are high consumers of EMS, police response, emergency room medical care, and crisis mental health care.
Not only are the initial 25 women still living at Heartside Landings, but the statistics indicate they are easing the burden on area healthcare and medical services, including:
65% reduction in ER visits: From 474 in 2023 to 167 in 2024, with a 100% reduction for one resident who had 66 ER visits in 2023.
87% reduction in EMS calls: From 128 in 2023 to 17 in 2024.
In addition to reducing EMS calls and ER visits, the women benefited from on-site healthcare and case management services, including:
601 Case Management meetings
363 Network180 Peer Support Specialist meetings
211 Preventative Visits with medical providers
115 Visits with psychiatric providers
343 Behavioral Interventions
And, the women themselves shared how they have benefited from this program, including:
improved wellness, both physical and mental health
increased interest in volunteering
Improved relationships with family members
Increased interest in attending social activities/having positive social relationships
a strong sense of accomplishment in remaining housed for an entire year
"I have seen the 25 women who now live at Heartside Landings go from being homeless, sick, in trouble with the law, ostracized, and feeling hopeless to getting healthy, building relationships, volunteering, and being neighbors. I have the best job in the world," said Thelma Ensink, Executive Director of Dégagé Ministries."
The program's goal is simple: to transition as many residents as possible to succeed in a permanent housing environment after benefiting from its high level of support.
"Housing these women has transformed their lives and allowed Dégagé to provide better service to the current guests at the Open Door Women's shelter," Ensink added. "While women with these complex needs are 10% of our total shelter population, they often utilized 60% of our shelter staff's time. This project has provided valuable data that shows how to reduce the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness."
Trinity Health Grand Rapids, who reacquired the property from the American Cancer Society in April 2021, is leasing the 20-room facility to Dégagé and has donated all the furniture to the program. Trinity officials are also thrilled with the results.
Although Dégagé operates the facility and provides case management, Network180 offers on-site mental health support, and Catherine's Health Center provides general medical services to the residents.
Additional partners in the project included funders who covered all the program's first-year expenses. The DeVos Family Foundation provided a lead gift, with the Jandernoa Foundation, Frey Foundation, and other private donors joining to launch the innovative program. Dégagé hopes to secure more local and state government funding in 2025 and beyond.
The 25 residents' housing stability is already improving, including 6 residents who are ready to move on to some form of independent living.
"We know this program only touches a small population of those currently identified as being unhoused in greater Grand Rapids, but we hope to demonstrate a solid return on investment for funders and realize success in providing innovative, targeted programming that meets people where they are and empowers them to make confident, successful steps into permanent housing," added Ensink.
As it looks to year two and beyond, Dégagé hopes to expand their program, and help other agencies provide similar facilities and programming.
Contact Information
Craig Clark
PR Contact
craig@clarkcommunication.com
616-550-2736
Source: GSGP
