Health Net of West Michigan is a bridge organization, connecting residents with resources such as housing, food, transportation and medical services. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, CEO Maureen Kirkwood says they’ve provided most of their services by phone, but...
“We had much greater success in a place-based situation where we could be face-to-face and interact with folks who live in a neighborhood or come to a particular location for maybe other services and then we would be there as well.”
Now, thanks to a $200,000 Michigan Health Endowment Fund grant, Health Net occupies the second floor of HUB 07, Amplify GR’s new community resource center.
“There are not a lot of services in the 49507 Boston Square area, and we felt like having our team on-site there would be very beneficial for the neighbors.”
During the winter months, the need for housing and utility assistance is great. Kirkwood says this year, when many social service programs rely on federal funding, much of it has been suspended or eliminated.
“There just seemed to be very little utility funds available to help community members, so we’re getting pretty creative in trying to connect people with resources.”
This is Health Net’s sixth West Michigan location.
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