Grand Rapids’ Inner City Christian Federation is addressing Kent County’s affordable housing shortage launching its Building with Faith Campaign.
“It’s well documented there’s a critical need for housing. There’s just not enough and the demand for it is rising, and so we need to get creative as a community in addressing that need.”
ICCF Community Homes CEO Ryan VerWys says that involves mobilizing community churches to use their underutilized real estate for housing construction.
“Our goal is to build 200 new homes, a hundred of which will be affordable rental and a hundred will be for sale affordably to low-income families.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2010 and 2020, housing prices in Kent County increased by 119%, while the average income only increased by 46%.
VerWys says ICCF has already raised $10 million of their $12 million goal.
“It’s a testament to the generosity of our community. Six million of that came through an anonymous donor who saw the value of helping people get into homes and, as a reflection of his faith, wanted to put his faith into action.”
ICCF’s goal is to have all 200 homes built by 2030.
For more information or to donate, you can log on to ICCF.org/BuildingWithFaith
