In an effort to serve more people facing homelessness and extreme poverty, Grand Rapids based non-profits Mel Trotter Ministries and Heartside Ministries are merging. While the two homeless advocacy groups have had a partnership since 2017, representatives from both non-profits announced on Tuesday that the two are officially joining forces.
On paper, the merger means reducing operating costs, eliminating potential duplication of services, and reaching more people suffering from homelessness, extreme poverty and mental illness. However, Mel Trotter Ministries chief executive officer Dennis Van Kampen says, more so, its symbolic of where homeless shelters are heading; where collaboration among non-profits, for the greater good of the people they serve-- is key.
“I do think this is the future of non-profits across our country,” Van Kampen said. “I think the donor population is changing, and one of the changes that they are asking is for us to work more closely together. Not only in Grand Rapids, but I am hearing this from other missions around the country and other non-profits. And I think that this can serve as a wonderful collaboration of how non-profits can get to know each other, they can come together around the things that unify them, and have a greater impact through that.”
Hearthside Ministries executive director Gregory Randall agreed.
“We serve the same population, and our services compliment what Mel Trotter is doing already,” he said. “So, it really is a perfect fit.”
Randall and Van Kampen estimate it will take most of 2020 to sort out the best approach to combining all of the services offered by Heartside and Mel Trotter. The merger of agency assets became official Jan. 1, 2020. No services or jobs are affected by the merger.