Dream Fund Partners

YWCA Kalamazoo – YWCA currently has 14 units that provide transitional supportive housing and 4 supportive housing units where residents can stay indefinitely. Sixty percent of reported crimes in Kalamazoo County are related to domestic violence which often leads to homelessness. It is the goal of the Dream to provide additional transitional housing which is a stated need of the YWCA.

Open Doors – Open Doors has a 50-year history in Kalamazoo, and is a highly respected model for low-cost housing. Open Doors is in need of additional affordable housing units. Currently they operate 107 rental units and 2 shelters all of which provide support services to their residents. It is our Dream to provide Open Doors with additional houses or a multi-unit building (or buildings) based on availability and the collaboration of funding.

Kalamazoo Habitat for Humanity – Habitat for Humanity provides permanent housing and is an organization known for its work throughout the world. Our Dream will be to partner with our local Habitat on several more houses. Habitat will provide opportunities for volunteers to pound nails or paint walls alongside future homeowners.

Building Blocks – Building Blocks of Kalamazoo organizes residents, one block at a time, to enhance the quality of neighborhood life. People come together in neighborhoods that face challenges associated with poverty and chronic disinvestment. Block-level groups revitalize their street based on their vision and strengths. Our goal is to assist Building Blocks in working with those living in the Eastside, Northside, and Vine neighborhoods.

Kalamazoo Collective Housing – Kalamazoo Collective has been in existence since 2007. Currently, 30 individuals live in community in five safe, well-maintened houses sharing in maintenance and home upkeep while learning budgeting and conflict resolution. In 11 years, no one has been evicted. It is the goal of the Dream to provide an additional house to help expand this successful model.

Dream Fund Projects
Since we will not be able to complete a project on our own, we will partner with existing organizations to encourage, facilitate, and raise funds to meet mutual goals.

One year plan and partners (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)

• YWCA – funding for one transitional house for their Domestic Assault Shelter
• Open Doors – funding for one duplex housing unit
• Habitat for Humanity – one house at 1612 Charles Street in the Eastside Neighborhood
• Habitat for Humanity – funding for critical home repairs to keep individuals in their homes
• Building Blocks – support existing block action groups in the Northside and Eastside Neighborhoods, and the development of a new Eastside Neighborhood block action group that includes a part-time staff position.

Dream Fund Financials

The Dream Fund is a three-year capital campaign that began May 12, 2019. As of September 22, 2019 the current amount pledged to the Dream Fund is $802,437. The church has received a total of $151,166 in donations from pledges and an additional $70,000 by others outside the church that we are partnering with to assist with these projects; for a total of $221,166. Below are the total estimated costs for projects planned for fiscal year July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020:

1. YWCA Transition House – estimated cost $101,000
2. Habitat House on Charles Street – estimated cost $90,000
3. Habitat Critical Home Repairs – estimated cost $25,000
4. Building Blocks – estimated cost $26,000
5. Open Doors one duplex house – estimated cost $150,000

The estimated total cost of all projects for fiscal year July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020 = $392,600