Home for the Holidays: Keeping Muskegon Families Safe, Warm, and Together
BY DOM BUNKER, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, UNITED WAY OF THE LAKESHORE
As the air turns crisp and the holidays approach, the idea of “home” takes on deeper meaning. Home is safety. It’s stability. It’s knowing you can turn the key, walk inside, and exhale.
But for too many Muskegon County families, that sense of home remains fragile — threatened by eviction, unsafe conditions, or financial hardship. This season, United Way of the Lakeshore and our community partners are working to make sure more neighbors can truly be home for the holidays.
The Continuum of Care: A Network That Anchors Housing Stability In Muskegon County, preventing and ending homelessness takes a coordinated effort. The Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network (CoC) brings together dozens of agencies, local governments, and community advocates who share one goal: ensuring every person has a safe and stable place to live.
This network is more than a table of partners; it’s the engine that drives housing stability across our community. Through shared data and collaboration, the CoC connects people experiencing homelessness to the right resources quickly, aligning outreach, shelter, and rehousing efforts under one coordinated system.
Crucially, the CoC also serves as the local framework that brings federal housing dollars home. Through this network, Muskegon County agencies can apply for, receive, and stay in compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, enabling programs like Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Homeless Prevention to operate locally. The CoC also connects partners to state and matching funds; keeping our community competitive and coordinated.
United Way of the Lakeshore serves as the Collaborative Applicant, managing the administrative, compliance, and coordination responsibilities that keep these funding streams running smoothly. But the power of the CoC lies with its members themselves; the agencies, case managers, and community leaders who drive the work every day.
Together, the CoC also engages in advocacy and policy work with federal and state lawmakers, elevating the real stories and challenges seen on the ground to inform larger housing solutions. From a case manager conducting outreach in a tent encampment to collective policy advocacy in Lansing, the Continuum ensures that Muskegon County has both a voice and a seat at the table.
That system of connection is what makes success stories like TrueNorth’s, Every Woman’s Place’s, and Mid Michigan Community Action’s possible.
TrueNorth: Flexibility That Prevents Homelessness
At TrueNorth Community Services, housing stability means more than paying the rent—it’s about building resilience. Through the Resilient Homes Initiative, TrueNorth focuses on early intervention for families who might not qualify for traditional programs but still face housing insecurity or eviction.
Thanks to community support, TrueNorth’s Housing Case Manager offers flexible, person-centered case management that prevents homelessness before it starts. In the first six months alone, 34 households—representing 88 individuals—secured or maintained stable housing through eviction prevention, landlord mediation, and financial literacy coaching in partnership with Goodwill Industries.
Every Woman’s Place: Safe, Supported, and Stable
For survivors of domestic violence, safety and stability are the foundation of recovery. Every Woman’s Place (EWP) operates 45 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units across Muskegon County, helping chronically homeless individuals with disabilities rebuild independence through safe, affordable housing paired with compassionate case management.
The program combines housing with personalized support—monthly home visits, goal-setting, and practical assistance like employment readiness or transportation help. One participant, after working with her case manager, secured part-time employment. Within three months, she paid off old fines and reinstated her driver’s license. Six months later, she had saved enough to buy her first car—steps that restored both confidence and independence after homelessness.
Mid Michigan Community Action: Protecting Homes Through Counseling
In downtown Muskegon, Mid Michigan Community Action Agency (MMCAA) provides HUD-certified housing counseling to renters, homeowners, and first-time buyers. Counselors guide clients through budgeting, credit repair, foreclosure prevention, and the homebuyer education required for MSHDA down-payment assistance.
Last year, 167 local households maintained housing stability thanks to these services. In one striking case, a client believed she owned her home after paying tens of thousands toward a land contract—until an eviction notice arrived. MMCAA’s housing counselor uncovered the predatory contract and connected her to legal aid, protecting her home and her savings.
Sometimes, keeping a home takes more than financial help—it takes someone who knows how to navigate the system.
Why It Matters When a family avoids eviction, a survivor secures a safe home, or a renter keeps their keys, the ripple effects spread—children stay in school, employees keep their jobs, and communities grow stronger.
United Way of the Lakeshore and its partners don’t just respond to crisis—they build the systems that prevent it. Through collaboration, advocacy, and shared purpose, we’re helping more neighbors stay safe, warm, and home for the holidays.
How You Can Help Give to strengthen local housing stability efforts and keep neighbors in their homes.
Volunteer your time or expertise — housing stability needs mentors, budget coaches, and advocates.
Share resources with someone who may be struggling this season.
Because “home for the holidays” shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be something every neighbor can count on.
United Way of the Lakeshore is uniting to inspire change and build thriving communities. Our Bold Goal – 10,000 more working families meet their basic needs by 2025. For more information, contact United Way of the Lakeshore at (231) 722-3134. Learn more about United Way of the Lakeshore at UnitedWayLakeshore.org, like the organization on Facebook and receive up to date information from Twitter at twitter.com/uwlakeshore.
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