“Degage actually has a dream to have a coalition of churches in the area that would take the lead together through volunteers and to start their own day center.”
Nelson Koon is Degage’s community engagement director. Its team is providing comprehensive training to Westminster Presbyterian employees and volunteers on how best to meet the unhoused needs.
“And our hope is that their day center will grow and partner with some other churches in the area to have a kind of one-stop location for a lot of services.”
Training focuses on causes of homelessness, mental health basics, and practical tools for building relationships with individuals experiencing trauma.
“We explore mental health, some substance abuse disorder, relational poverty and try and help people understand that between suburban Grand Rapids area to urban Grand Rapids area, there are two different cultures, and we need to understand the differences in those cultures in order to serve and minister properly.”
Koon says Degage is in talks with several area churches working to establish a network of day centers serving the city’s unhoused community.
