soulight777 - FOOD AND SHELTER IN KALAMAZOO

Low-cost and free food sources

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES Blessings by the box "Angel Foodis available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $25 per unit Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $50. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78. The food is all the same high quality one would purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe. Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can purchase, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries, like most all other retail grocery stores, also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system. Site #1 New Life Victory Chuch 2775 South 26th Street Kalamazoo , MI, 49048

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES SITE # 1

Site # 2 doesn't have a specific page for Angel Food Ministries ,` but here is some information : " All orders must be prepaid with cash, EBT card or money order made out to Kalamazoo

First Church of the Nazarene (no exceptions)."
Here is The FC of N site to check for order and pick up dates as well as location:

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES SITE # 2

The menus are the same for all location of AFM . Here is a link to what is available this month.

THIS MONTHS MENU

If you are in a desparate situation , and you need food NOW , here is a page that will give you ideas about getting free food :

FREE FOOD AND WHERE TO GET IT WHEN YOU ARE DESPARATE

Home Ownership Services from the Kalamazoo

DHS

Home Ownership Services may help prevent loss of a home, providing services such as:

House payments (mortgage or land contract payments), including principal, interest, legal fees and escrow for taxes and insurance

Property taxes and fees

Mobile home lot rent for owners or purchasers of mobile homes

Insurance coverage required by a mortgage or land

contract.

The lifetime Home Ownership Services maximum is $2000. The lifetime maximum is the combined cumulative total of all home ownership service payments. Home Ownership Services cannot be approved if the emergency was client-caused. The total amount of taxes past due for all years does not exceed $2,000.

A client-caused emergency is when an SER group fails to pay required payments for the six-month period prior to the month of application. Good cause may exist (except for property taxes) as a basis for an applicant’s failure to prevent an emergency.

"Only a DHS Specialist can accurately determine your eligibility for this program. "Ask for details when turning in a completed application at your local

DHS County Office.

Emergency food and shelter for people in Kalamazoo County

Some information to get you started. These are multi-help organizations

Catholic Family Services

1819 Gull Road

Kalamazoo, MI49048269-381-9800269-381-2932

Housing Resources

345 N. Burdick Street

Kalamazoo, MI49007269-382-0287269-382-6173

Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes

913 E. Alcott Street

Kalamazoo, MI49001269-488-2617269-343-3669

Ministry With Community

440 N. Church

Kalamazoo, MI49007269-343-5880269-343-0508

The Salvation Army

1700 S. Burdick Street

Kalamazoo, MI49001269-344-6119269-344-1163

YWCA of Kalamazoo

Jennifer Shoub 353 E. Michigan Avenue

Kalamazoo, MI49007269-345-5595269-345-8230

Open Door & Next Door Shelters

Post Office Box 50102

Kalamazoo, MI49005

Kalamazoo has a wonderful farmers market , AND if you are on WIC , you can get free produce ! Keep reading :

If you qualify for WIC , there is a program for getting free fresh produce from the market . It is called project FRESH.

Here is some information about PF :

PROJECTFRESH

What Is Project FRESH?

Information from the Project Fresh website :
Project FRESH is a program that makes fresh produce available to low-income, nutritionally-at-risk consumers, by using Michigan farmers' markets.

Project FRESH Administration Project FRESH is administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan State University Extension/Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Family Nutrition Program (MSUE/EFNEP and FNP). Local health agencies and MSU extension offices statewide deliver Project FRESH services to certified WIC participants.

Who Is Eligible For Project FRESH Coupons? Women and children (ages 1-4) currently enrolled in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program can get coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables. Women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding are targeted to help meet their special nutritional needs.

How Are Project FRESH Coupons Issued? WIC local agency staff identify eligible participants and issue coupons at the agency.

How Do Project FRESH Coupons Work?Each client receives a $20 booklet of ten $2 coupons to be used June 1 through October 31 in the year the booklet is issued. Coupons can only be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at authorized farmers' markets.

How Do Participants Know Which Farmers' Markets Are Authorized?
All farmers participating in Project Fresh will have a laminated yellow poster stating: "Project FRESH Coupons Accepted Here." In FY 2005, 76 Michigan farmers' markets and roadside stands were authorized to accept Project Fresh coupons.

Bank Street Market
Located at 1200 Bank Street, (between Lake and Stockbridge, just west of Portage.
Farmer's Market open Saturdays in May and November open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in June through October from 7:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Flea Market open Wednesdays and Fridays, May through mid-November.

337-8899

Long-term and Permanent Housing

If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for Habitat for Humanity , here is the site for Kalamazoo County . You will find a list of qualifications and how to apply by following this link.Look under Quick Links ,and click on 'Buy a Home' .

KALAMAZOO COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Are you interested in finding out about HUD , and what it can offer? try one of these links :

Housing Counseling

The American Dream Downpayment Act -

Local Homebuyer Programs

Low Downpayment Information

Home Improvement Help

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)

Mortgage Programs

Help for fixing up your neighborhood

Contact your local government for help

Starting your own business

Subsidized housing search for Michigan

For free legal information that will explain :

Predatory Lending: Avoiding Mortgage
Scams ,resolving Your Housing Dispute
what to do if you missed your eviction court date and property Tax Help .

go here : (pdf. documents)

LEGAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOW INCOME HOUSING IN MICHIGAN

THE HOME OWNERSHIP PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

This organization will help you before your house goes into foreclosure. The help is free. You need to call them as soon as you think there might be a chance of foreclosure. They are dedicated to finding something that will help you in your situation . Give them a call and see what they can do for you.

How We Can Help

About 888-995-HOPE

The 888-995-HOPE hotline has a single mission: to help more homeowners avoid foreclosure. Provided by the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, the HOPE Hotline has provided advice and education to more than 100,000 homeowners since 2002.

The Foundation is not a mortgage company. We are an independent, third-party resource that has assembled a not-for-profit network dedicated to helping homeowners avoid foreclosure.

The help we offer is free.

HELP TO AVOID FORECLOSURE

Many more resources for fixing your house , help paying mortgage or rent , and help buying a house can be found at the link listed below.. All assistance is FREE. There are no fees for finding help.

MORE HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Are you homeless ?

Here are some resources to check out first :

This is a great resource and networking site if you are homeless :

SPARE SOME CHANGE

The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH)

" is a nonprofit membership organization formed as an association of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, nonprofit housing and service programs, government programs and concerned citizens from across the State. "

MICHIGAN COALITION AGAINSTHOMELESSNESS RESOURCES

This website is intended to help the homeless find information and services available on the world wide web. Spread the word that there is free internet access available through most public libraries. If you would like to contribute, please donate to your local food bank.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HOMELESS RESOURCES

The National coalition for the homeless is also an organization the includes those who are or who have been homeless as part of the resource team . That is as it should be !

NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

Find out more about homelessness and what it does to the human beings who experience it :

THIS PAGE IS NOT MEANT TO DEPRESS THOSE WHO ARE FEARING HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES.
Outrageous things are happening to our fellow human beings who just happen to be homeless . Do you care , or are you one of the ones who looks the other way ?
IT IS TO LIGHT A FIRE UNDER SOME OF US TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT WEHAVE AND SHARE SOME OF OUR RESOURCES.
WALK IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO BEING HOMELESS ?
PLAY THE GAME ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE TO FIND OUT HOW PEOPLE CAN BECOME HOMELESS.

HOMELESSNESS

There are some OUTRAGEOUS things going on in our country.

If you didn't read the pages about homelessness , go back and read them . It is a MUST DO for those of us who care about what happens to our fellow human beings

MORE HOUSING RESOURCES

This is a great site with extensive search tools for housing help : "HomeSight is an annotated and rated resource guide of housing agencies, projects, policies, designs, and publications available on the Internet. HomeSight is neither a real estate manual nor a directory of available housing units."

HOME SITEDOT ORG

CO-ABODE

This is a wonderful alternative for single moms and their kids . It is a great idea , if you can find a compatable roomate . Your kids might have friends to play with ,and the worries of rent and utilities may be solved !

More pluses are listed below :

The CoAbode Single Mothers House Sharing

"can be your relief and source of support!

We present you with opportunities so you can:

afford a better house or apartment, within a safer school district

halve the cost of rent and overhead expenses, freeing up much needed resources

lighten the burden of daily chores such as cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, homework, carpooling and child supervisions so that you are less tired and stressed out and better able to provide for your kids and yourself

divorced moms can hang on to the family home by bringing in a mom roommate to help cover expenses

give those in abusive situations support and strength so they can escape knowing there is another mom there to pool resources with and get emotional support "

FOOD AND SHELTER IN KALAMAZOO