Ottawa County Affordable Housing

affordable housing

 

A wide range of organizations in Ottawa County are dedicated to supporting the community’s housing needs. Below is a list of agencies, including contact information, that may be able to help with a specific housing need, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and homelessness prevention.

Good Samaritan Ministries is the Housing Assessment and Resource Agency (HARA) for Ottawa County. If you are facing housing crisis call for an intake (616.392.7159) from anywhere in the county or complete a Housing Screening Survey on their website, Housing Screening Survey.

Call 2-1-1: In addition to the contacts listed below, people in need of housing assistance are encouraged to call 211 from a landline or cell phone. This community access line is a first point of access for people needing support for health and human services.
 

EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES

Emergency shelter services are designed to meet an immediate need for shelter for those with no other safe housing options. Emergency shelter is typically considered brief or temporary. If you’re in need of emergency shelter, here are some resources:

Resilience offers shelter to families and individuals fleeing domestic violence. The agency serves the greater Holland area and all of Ottawa County, but will also consider requests for shelter from those who need to relocate from another area. Ph: 616.392.2829.

The Holland Rescue Mission operates two shelters in Holland – one for men, and one for single women and women and children. The Holland Rescue Mission primarily serves persons and families who have previously resided in the greater Holland area. Ph: 616.396.2200

The Salvation Army. This Grand Haven-based shelter offers limited shelter capacity to families with children in need of shelter in the Grand Haven/Tri-Cities area. Ph: 616.842.3380
 

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

Transitional housing services target those presently homeless (residing in an emergency shelter, living on the street or in a place not meant for human habitation, or those being discharged from certain institutions) who have no alternative housing options and need more intensive supportive services to resolve housing barriers and achieve basic financial stability. Consequently, transitional housing programs provide housing that is linked with direct support services. Transitional housing services are typically provided for six months to two years.

Resilience offers a transitional housing program serving victims of domestic violence. 411 Butternut, Holland, and 300 N. Ferry St, Grand Haven, Ph: 616.392.2829

The Holland Rescue Mission operates transitional housing, primarily to clients referred internally from one of the agency’s emergency shelters. 356 Fairbanks and South River Ave, Holland, Ph: 616.396.2200

The Salvation Army in Grand Haven operates a small number of transitional housing units. 310 N. DeSpelder, Grand Haven, Ph: 616.842.3380

The People Center in Spring Lake also offers a small number of transitional housing units. Participants must be employed at time of intake. 307 E. Exchange, Spring Lake, Ph: 616.844.6710

Love in Action operates sheltered housing in the Grand Haven area for men, women and women with children. Transitional Housing is available to those individuals and families in housing crisis and seeking to make changes in their lives. 326 N. Ferry Street, Grand Haven, 616.846.2701

 

RAPID RE-HOUSING

Rapid re-housing rapidly connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness to permanent housing through a tailored package of assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services.

Good Samaritan Ministries offers rapid re-housing assistance to eligible households. 513 E. 8th Street, Holland, Ph: 616.392.7159

Resilience offers a rapid re-housing program serving victims of domestic violence. 411 Butternut, Holland; Ph: 616.392.2829

 

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Permanent Housing includes a variety of types of housing intended for long-term or permanent use. The first section below will highlight those agencies or services that provide rent subsidies to eligible persons or households for as long as there is financial need.

Community Mental Health of Ottawa County manages a number of Permanent Supportive Housing units, available to persons who are homeless and have a qualifying disability. Persons who meet the HUD definition of chronically homeless are prioritized. The agency serves persons from Ottawa County. This program also has some units designated for persons who meet the HUD definition of Chronically Homeless12265 James St, Holland, Ph: 616.393.5681

Good Samaritan Ministries manages five units for individuals in Ottawa County who meet the HUD definition of chronically homeless. Chronic Homeless Definition
513 E. 8th Street, Holland, Ph: 616.392.7159

Heritage Homes manages a number of Permanent Supportive Housing units, available to persons who are homeless and have a qualifying disability. The agency serves persons from Ottawa County.
400 136th Avenue - Building 200 - Suite 205, Holland, Ph: 616.395.9311

Local housing complexes in Ottawa County also offer subsidized rental opportunities. To find out more about subsidized or market-rate rental housing, go to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s website at www.michiganhousinglocator.com
 

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION

The LHA seeks to close the front door to homelessness by offering services that provide the financial assistance to keep families and individuals housed. Each program has unique eligibility guidelines but all programs work together to best meet the need of the household within those guidelines. For more information, contact one of the following agencies:

  • Ottawa County Department of Health and Human Services
    12185 James St., Holland, 616.394.7200
  • Salvation Army – Holland
    104 Clover, Holland, 616.392.4461
  • Salvation Army – Grand Haven
    310 N. DeSpelder, Grand Haven, 616.842.3380
  • Good Samaritan Ministries
    513 E. 8th Street, Holland, 616.392.7159
     

HOMEOWNERSHIP

A number of area programs or agencies offer affordable homeownership opportunities to qualified individuals and families, including:

  • Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity, serving the greater Holland area at 341 W. 16th St., Holland, 616.393.8001
  • Tri-Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, serving the Tri-Cities area at 524 Washington, Grand Haven, 616.842.6260
  • Ottawa County Community Action Agency, serving all of Ottawa County at 12251 James St, Holland, 616.393.4433
  • The City of Holland Program, serving designated neighborhoods within the City of Holland: https://www.cityofholland.com/housingandneighborhoods, 616.355.1300
  • The City of Grand Haven, the Neighborhood Housing Services provides grants for home purchase, down payment assistance, home inspections and housing counseling for eligible home buyers and home owners facing financial crisis, 616-935-3270.