When Thelma Ensink decided to step down as the administrator for Calvin Christian Schools, all she knew was the calling to go back to her roots and work with the most vulderable population.
Within a few months, the Wyoming resident would discover a possible direction as Marge Palmerlee, the longtime executive director for Dégagé Ministries, had announced her plans to retire.
“When I did hear about that position opening up, I thought this is the right fight,” Ensink said. “This is the type of organization I wanted to serve in this next chapter of my career.”
Born and raised in South Africa during apartheid, Ensink said her experiences ignited “a passion for social justice because I grew up around racial injustice.” Her family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Grand Rapids.
Ensink attend Calvin University and through a friend’s suggestion became a paramedic, which introduced her to Dégagé Ministries, where she learned the residents’ stories were not that much different form her own.
“In may ways they were living lives just like mine until there was a tragic event or maybe they served in the military and that sent their life into a very different course,” she said. “All of sudden they find themselves experiencing poverty, being without a home, being without the resources and relations to be in a stable place.”
Ensink did not forget those stories through her career which included working at a rural Ionia medical practice and serving as a teacher and administrator for Calvin Christian Schools.
Heeding the call to work with the most vulnerable population, Ensink decided to leave Calvin Christian Schools last spring.
“I just knew I wanted to work in that field, so I kind of took a step of faith, stepping away from the education world and really seeking the right opportunity,” Ensink said.
Now in the Dégagé director position for about a month, Ensink said she is enjoying the opportunity to work with the staff and volunteers.
She admits it has been an interesting time to step into the role as many, because of the pandemic, are facing hardships for the first time.
“We are focused right now on the immediate needs and looking forward to when we can welcome our volunteers back and host community events,” Ensink said.
Also this past October, Degage broke ground on a new $6 million project that will expand services to the area’s homeless and low-income families. Part of that project includes a sleeping area for those who are on third shift and a recovery area for those who had surgery.
For more on Dégagé Ministries, its projects and needs, visit degageministries.com.
Kent County Health Department’s Guiding Light building has 24 private rooms and a bunk area able to serve as an isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)
Following last week’s action by homeless community advocate Guiding Light Works to temporarily turn over the keys to its facility at 255 S. Division in Grand Rapids to the Kent County Health Department, the health department announced today that it was ready to start accepting and isolating homeless persons.
In an afternoon announcement Friday, March 3, the Health Department confirmed completion of its work to prepare the facility as an isolation center for those experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting test results. The facility today began accepting patients who are referred from community hospitals.
“Guiding Light has always been a valued partner, but now more than ever, we appreciate their collaboration, sacrifice, and generosity,” Dr. Adam London, Kent County Health Department Director, said in supplied material. “Our goal is to provide a safe place for people who are experiencing homelessness to recover from the coronavirus and to minimize the transmission of the virus.”
The facility has 24 private rooms, a bunk area, six bathrooms, and a full-service kitchen that can accommodate up to 60 individuals when fully staffed.
“Our staff has done a tremendous job transitioning this facility into an isolation center,” London said. “They have worked tirelessly to assess the medical and operational needs to ensure individuals using this facility are well cared for during their recovery.”
A sign on the door of the Kent County Health Department’s Guiding Light designed to serve as an isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)
The development of this facility would not have been possible without the partnership of the City of Grand Rapids and the non-profit community, as well as the generosity of Amway Corporation and Meijer Inc. who donated household and hygiene items, according to the health department statement.
“This is a very strategic and important public health intervention which will save lives,” London said.
Guiding Light’s offering use the building was key to the effort.
“As we have watched the spread of COVID-19 through our community, we have been increasingly alarmed to realize there was no announced coordinated plan to care for the men and women struggling with addiction, mental health issues and homelessness in the Heartside community,” Stuart Ray, Guiding Light executive director, said in supplied material announcing the use agreement last week.
“So Guiding Light stepped up, much as we have done every day for the past 90 years of caring for the most vulnerable in our society. We felt it was our God-given responsibility to step forward to make available a safe, clean and secure isolation space in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in our Heartside community. Without access to proper sanitation or the ability to physically distance, an outbreak in Heartside would ravage this group of souls.”
Guiding Light is maintaining its rescue, recovery, and re-engagement programs at its Iron House facility.
For more information on Guiding Light Works visit their website at guidinglightworks.org.
After a two-year shared services agreement that combined operational functions, Grand Rapids homeless advocacy nonprofits Heartside Ministry and Mel Trotter Ministries have taken the next step in their partnership by formally merging. The merger of agency assets became official Jan. 1. No services or jobs are effected by the merger.
Reducing operating costs, eliminating potential duplication of services, and creating a greater impact for the populations the agencies both serve were the driving forces for the merger, according to organization officials.
“We have enjoyed a partnership with Mel Trotter Ministries for the past two years, and have realized the benefit of combining our teams and services to provide more for the people we serve,” said Heartside Ministry executive director Gregory Randall. “We’re attempting to show radical hospitality to the same people Mel Trotter serves and we’re pursuing the same donors and volunteers, so it makes sense for us to collaborate in a formal manner.”
“Both organizations have always shared the belief that demonstrating the compassion of Jesus toward anyone experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty is what we’re called to do, so we want to be the best stewards of the assets we have to fulfill that mission,” said Mel Trotter Ministries chief executive officer Dennis Van Kampen. “The neighbors and guests of our respective agencies will benefit from this move.”
Starting in 2017, Heartside Ministry engaged Mel Trotter Ministries to share operational functions including human resources, facilities management and information technology. It was during that time that agency leaders began discussing additional ways to save money while increasing efficiency and outcomes for the people they serve. As executives from both organizations mentioned the partnership to donors and key stakeholders, it became apparent that the idea of collaborating resonated in the community. The notion of formally merging was discussed by each organization’s board of directors for more than a year, followed by in-depth talks between Randall and Van Kampen. Both boards approved a formal merger at each of the board’s December 2019 meetings.
“In recent years there have been donors, community leaders and even board members that have suggested and even advocated for Heartside neighborhood agencies to combine forces, so we knew the time was right to take this next step,” said Van Kampen. “We will be better stewards of the talent and treasures given to us and grow in ways that perhaps wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”
“As a church in the Heartside neighborhood, we depend on our community partners as we together seek the flourishing of our neighbors. Both Mel Trotter Ministries and Heartside Ministry are valuable partners because they help our church members walk alongside our neighbors,” said Rev. Michael Hoogeboom, minister of outreach at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church. “I’m hopeful that the combination of unique gifts and experience that each organization brings to this new partnership will result in a thriving Heartside community.”
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. Heartside Ministry will retain its name and current location at 54 Division Avenue South. The executives anticipate the eventual move of Heartside Ministry staff and programs to Mel Trotter’s headquarters, located at 225 Commerce Avenue SW, in an effort to reduce operational expenses in maintaining two locations.
Communicating this news to the marginalized populations of Heartside will be the immediate focus for the combined entity.
“We want to ensure continuity of services for our neighbors and guests, so we will not be making any immediate, bold changes with regard to the kinds of services we provide or how we provide them,” said Randall, who intends to continue in his role as executive director of Heartside Ministry’s services. “We know that this news might be confusing and perhaps overwhelming to those we serve, so we want to take a measured approach and provide the best care we can for our neighbors.”
Additional information will be shared publicly as it becomes available, but the organizations have provided a webpage that will provide up-to-date information on the merger for anyone interested in following the news: www.meltrotter.org/heartside.
Homeless, with Homework: A new School News Network series on homelessness in schools and its connection to housing. As costs rise and the rental market has low availability, nearly 2,500 students in Kent ISD public schools are facing homelessness. These stories look into what’s led to the issue and how it impacts students. For more on the series, click here.
When students in Kent County schools are identified as homeless, district coordinators have items ready — school uniforms, backpacks, coats, school supplies, bus passes, even mattresses.
What’s become more and more difficult is helping families find adequate shelter.
Schools — urban, suburban and rural — are seeing increased numbers of homeless students and fewer options for housing because of high rents and scarce vacancies. Coordinators who work with students and families facing homelessness ask where they are staying and inform them about 211 services including shelter information. But they often can’t do much more. Even shelters have long waiting lists.
The school coordinators say families are living in cars, campers, motels and, most commonly, in “doubled-up” arrangements with other families.
“I really feel, truly, when it comes to finding a house, I’m more of just emotional support because there aren’t options,” said Sarah Weir. She is Kentwood Public Schools coordinator for the McKinney-Vento Act, federal legislation that helps children continue to go to school even if they don’t have a permanent home. (To receive services, such as transportation, under the act, they must be identified as homeless, according to certain criteria.)
Casey Gordon, who coordinates the McKinney-Vento Act grant for Kent and Allegan counties at Kent ISD, said more students are facing prolonged homelessness and are being newly identified as homeless.
Sara Weir
“It’s directly related to the lack of affordable housing,” she said.
School districts each year start their count of homeless students in July. During the first few weeks of school in Grand Rapids Public Schools, 194 students newly reported as homeless.
“It was huge. We had to rush,” said Edna Stewart, the district’s homeless/foster care coordinator. Last year, 953 students were homeless in the more than 15,300-student district compared to 661 in 2017-2018.
‘ALMOST EVERYONE I WORK WITH IS WORKING, THEY JUST CAN’T AFFORD THE RENT. SO MANY ARE DOUBLED UP.’
– Sara Weir, Kentwood Public Schools
Weir, who is in her fourth year in the position, said last school year 216 students were identified as homeless in Kentwood. This year that number was already at 165 in mid-November. “It’s never been this high in the three years before this,” she said. “It’s been the busiest start that I’ve ever had.”
Rural and suburban areas are seeing similar trends, say district coordinators. In Cedar Springs Public Schools in late October, Ashley Reynolds has already worked with 75 students. Last school year, 60 registered by the end of the school year. In Comstock Park, Missi McPherson has already assisted 42 homeless students. Last year’s total was 61.
No Place to Call Home
Gordon said the issue is as much a problem of housing availability as affordability. Grand Rapids has less than 4 percent of rental units available, which is one of the lowest rates in the country.
Casey Gordan
“That means we have lots and lots of people applying for every apartment and home that’s available,” Gordon said. “Landlords and rental companies then have a variety of applicants to choose from. They look at every factor, including incredibly high credit scores. Anyone who has a barrier in their past credit history, it becomes very difficult for them to find an affordable unit.”
Gordon said she received eight calls in one week from people asking for rental assistance. “They are working multiple jobs and still don’t have enough to make their rent payment.”
However, there aren’t enough resources to meet demand for help paying the rent. “We absolutely have a dire need for more resources to keep people stable,” she said.
‘THEY ARE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS AND STILL DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THEIR RENT PAYMENT.’
– Casey Gordon, Kent ISD
That’s the case on Grand Rapids’ rapidly developing West Side, where skyrocketing rents have driven out many residents, while homes for sale are hard to come by and out of many buyers’ price range. So says Jim Davis, a city planning commissioner and executive director of Westside Collaborative, an alliance of nonprofits and faith-based agencies that works to support equity and quality of life for all. Davis says renters may hear from landlords, “Hey, we love having you, your lease is up. We’re going to take your $900 a month payment and it’s going to be $1,800, but we hope you’ll stay” – not a realistic option for most.
Related Story: ‘We didn’t notice they’re gone’ – A West Side resident with two children in Grand Rapids Public Schools, Jim Davis worries about the families who can’t afford to live in that booming area and the impact on schools.
Skyrocketing Rents
With 43 percent of families not earning enough to afford basic needs, according to a reportcompleted by the Michigan Association of United Ways, incomes aren’t aligning with housing prices.
Units that advertise as affordable often really aren’t, Stewart said.
“Affordable housing here is not affordable housing. Who are you really targeting when you say ‘affordable housing’ and you promote these new apartments being built? You are not targeting (those) in need of that housing.”
Edna Stewart
In Kenowa Hills Public Schools, which had 173 homeless students enrolled last school year, area hotels and motels serve as temporary living arrangements.
“In the last five years, that’s been the trend they’ve seen increasing,” Gordon said. “People from Grand Rapids and northern parts of Kent County and many other districts are landing in the hotels in Kenowa Hills.”
In Kentwood, Weir said most families that come to her — about 10 each week — have exhausted their options. Minimum wage jobs paying $9.45 per hour — that’s $1,638 a month for a 40-hour week (if one got paid in full for every week of the year) — don’t come close to paying the bills.
‘AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU ARE NOT TARGETING (THOSE) IN NEED OF THAT HOUSING.’
– Edna Stewart, Grand Rapids Public Schools
“They can’t find a place,” Weir said. “Almost everyone I work with is working, they just can’t afford the rent. So many are doubled up — more than ever before.”
Weir has families facing sudden homelessness because apartment complexes are hiking rates and not renewing leases, forcing families to move when prices increase. “We are running into a lot of people who have a place to live and they think everything is fine, then they get kicked out because (the property owner) can charge more.”
Weir used to print out lists of available rentals. Now, she helps families get on a list for shelters. One Kentwood family living out of a car was 21st on a waiting list to get into a shelter.
“I tell them the best thing is to keep your eyes open when driving around,” she said, noting that private homeowners aren’t always as strict about credit and eviction records.
Waiting Lists, Shelters, Hotels
In Comstock Park, McPherson, educational support services coordinator, said many of her families — working two or three low paying jobs to make ends meet — are priced out of the rental market. She had 15 students in early November living in Grand Rapids shelters.
“They were on the waiting list so Salvation Army was putting them up in hotels until there were openings,” McPherson said. (Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students have the right to be transported to their district of origin if needed and feasible.)
Missi McPherson
About a quarter of students in Comstock Park schools live in the York Creek Apartments, where two-bedroom units start at $785. If families lose those units, there are few other options available. One hotel in the district offers extended stays, but it’s full too, she said.
“When a house or apartment comes available that’s reasonably priced, it’s snatched up very quickly. There’s just not the availability out there. We are so small and there are not that many rental properties outside of York Creek,” McPherson said.
In Cedar Springs, “We are the highest we’ve been since we’ve had a homeless liaison,” Ashley Reynolds said of the 75 homeless students she’s worked with so far this year.
“There were two houses listed for rent and two of our families went to look at them, but they were like $1,600 for a three-bedroom. They just don’t have the means to afford that.”
‘WHEN A HOUSE OR APARTMENT COMES AVAILABLE THAT’S REASONABLY PRICED, IT’S SNATCHED UP VERY QUICKLY.’
– Missi McPherson, Comstock Park Public Schools
A fire at Red Flannel Acres, an affordable housing community in the district, destroyed eight units, displacing several families and leading them to double up with other families.
Another trend is living in campers or tiny cottages on campgrounds, Reynolds said. “We have a couple families who have campers that are going to try and stay in there all winter. You never want to see that, but then if they don’t have anywhere else to go it’s better than nothing.”
Prices Higher than Many Can Afford
Many families live on incomes above the poverty level, but don’t earn enough to cover basic needs.
Statewide, of 3.935 million households, 14 percent lived in poverty in 2017 and another 29 percent had incomes under what’s needed to cover basic expenses.
In Kent County, including those living below the poverty line, 37 percent of families did not earn enough to cover basic needs.
As for wages, 61 percent of all jobs in Michigan pay less than $20 per hour.
Ashley Reynolds
Gordon hopes to see increased community efforts to help families afford housing, keep their jobs, be able to work — and have their children go to school without worrying about being displaced at the end of the day. “We need real affordable housing,” she said, adding, “$1,200 a month is not affordable housing for a family of five that has one income and little ones.”
Action Needed Locally
Gordon said many cities and counties across the nation are taking steps to increase affordable housing options. They are tapping into grant sources, incentivizing developers and working through planning commissions.
The issue can be controversial, however, because of the stigma surrounding affordable housing. Communities often resist multi-family residences.
‘WE HAVE A COUPLE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CAMPERS THAT ARE GOING TO TRY AND STAY IN THERE ALL WINTER.’
– Ashley Reynolds
But city master planning should prioritize long-term stability and growth, without increasing family and youth homelessness, she said.
“We see some very hopeful things but we also see problems that continue to be a problem. The ‘We don’t want affordable housing here. Why would we incentivize multiple family units?’ It is a tension between everyone wanting a wonderful place to live, work and be, but how do you ensure you have equality in that system?”
Nevertheless, she said, people can work together for the benefit of all.
“Business owners, politicians and the city really have a significant interest in ensuring we are a community where everybody is able to live and work and get around.”
For more stories about local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
By Area Community Services Employment & Training Council (ACSET)
Each year, communities across the country conduct a point-in-time (PIT) count of homeless individuals. On January 27, 2016, the PIT count for Kent County was 800 persons. While the majority of the homeless were in transitional or emergency shelter that particular evening, over 5% were identified as being unsheltered. This means they were sleeping without shelter in the harsh winter weather.
Our community has many shelters, serving hundreds of people each year. Every winter they are faced with an urgent need to prevent frostbite, hypothermia and even death among our homeless population. ‘Tis the season to give, so here are some ways you can help.
Emergency Shelter – Warming centers and emergency overnight shelters provide temporary protection from extreme weather. A list of resources in downtown Grand Rapids can be found here. If you see someone on the streets in freezing temperatures, contact the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s 2-1-1 database by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-887-1107 to get help.
Give Winter Gear – shelters will accept donations of warm winter clothing, including thermal underwear, boots, coats, hats and gloves. Or you can contact a shelter to see if they have any specific needs. Again, 2-1-1 is a great resource to find a shelter near you.
Volunteer – Most shelters and homeless programs are busiest during the winter months and could use more help. Contact a shelter near you to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Donate – Because this is the busiest time of year for shelters, they are using more. If you typically make an end-of-year donation, consider a monetary gift to a local shelter. You may even be able to set up a recurring donation so you keep giving throughout the year.
Advocate – Advocacy means using your voice to address the root causes of homelessness, such as access to affordable housing. Whether you generate awareness on social media or make a call to your legislators about the issue, using your voice is an inexpensive way to help fight homelessness.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
Community Awareness is a show produced at WKTV and hosted by Donna Kidner-Smith. The show acts as a conduit for people in the local community to share their stories. Donna’s latest series focuses on homeless teenagers and how they were able to cope.
Mortisha Olvera was found herself homeless at 17 years old, here is her story. The full interview can be seen in the view above.
Thank you for joining us to share your story.
Thank you Mrs Smith. I appreciate that a lot. I have been wanting this opportunity ever since I was a little girl, to tell my story because I have a really good one, and I would love for my story to help many other children out there. Because what I went through, I don’t want anyone else to go through too.
Mortisha, what is your earliest childhood memory?
When my mom, sister and I went to the park and we were having a really good time. My mom was barbecuing but my dad wasn’t around at the time. We were having a really good family time, and I miss that to this day.
How many sisters do you have?
I have four sisters.
Tell me a little bit about your family set up?
My mom and dad were married. They were together for nine years, but when I was three my father left. I actually just recently got to see him after 17 years! I was scared, I didn’t know what to say. He got to meet my little daughter, and I was happy for that. It was nerve-wracking because I don’t know what to say when I meet new people.
And where has your dad been since then?
He’s been in Florida the entire time.
What brought your father to Michigan?
To come see my 9 month old daughter. That one of the reason I wanted to see him. So he could meet a new member of the family.
So he was seeking a relationship with you?
Yes, he always has, but I’ve been too afraid to reach out and be willing to meet him. I don’t want to get hurt either.
Have you completed High School Mortisha?
I actually have not. I didn’t drop out, I quit in the 11th grade because I was in Comstock but going to school in Ottawa Hills. That was a long distance and very difficult to do.
So you were living in the Comstock Park area and you were enrolled at Ottawa Hills High School?
Yes I was. It was hard to make that transfer every day, and then my mom was also sick at the time. She has been sick almost her whole life, but it got worse and we started living at York Creek.
What do you think about school?
I like school. I like art. I think more kids should go than skip it to do drugs and the whole immaturity thing.
Tell us a little bit about elementary and middle school. What were some of the things that you enjoyed the most in school?
I liked the people. I liked the teachers. I got to know the teachers very well, they were like my friends because I didn’t have many friends in school. The teachers were my friends and they helped me through so much! Without them I wouldn’t have made it through any grades.
When you say they helped you through so much, are you speaking academically or otherwise.
Academically, physically and mentally because I was going through a hard time in those times.
Well then, let’s launch into that if it’s not too personal Mortisha. What were some of the issues that you were contending with, that you needed the teachers’ assistance with.
Well, I was in special ed because I had a really hard time reading and in math. When I was born my umbilical cord wrapped around my brain and the lack of oxygen killed some of my brain cells. I try to fight that because It’s a really hard difficulty to deal with, but I fight through it every day.
Now you mentioned that your mother has been sick most of your life.
Yes, she’s been sick ever since she came out of the womb because she has a hole in her heart, but the doctors never found it until 4 or 5 years ago. It’s been getting bigger too. She’s been doing okay, but she’s been getting worse.
As far as a home, tell us about your home life. Experiences or hobbies that you had. Maybe some activities you did as a family.
Well, my mom was never home because she always worked. She would get up at 5 in the morning and be home at 5 at night. So every day, she only had one day off, she would go to work and come home and relax. She worked as a housekeeper for Heather Hill Care Center for 10 years. She did for 10 years on top of taking care of us at the same time.
What was the dynamic like in your neighborhood? Were they neighbors to watch over you?
No, I was an alone child. My sisters went off and did what they wanted to do. I stayed by myself. I didn’t go around anyone. I’m still that way today. Being around people scares me sometimes. I don’t know what to expect when I see a new person.
What would you say is your number 1 challenge? Being the age that you are, you are now 19 years old, what would you say is your number 1 challenge?
My daughter. She is a blessing because I never thought I could have kids. Being a first time mother, every day is different and I don’t know what to expect. Every day she’s changing. Everyday she’s growing and eating different things. It’s hard because you don’t know what she wants and since she’s only 9 months old she can’t speak. So all she does is run around on her little toesies. I went to he doctor yesterday. She’s 9 months, 20 pounds and 29 inches. So she’s a pretty good, healthy baby.
Is the father involved in her life?
No. I was tired of the abuse. I was tired of the mental abuse. I was tired of always being put down and called names. I was with him for 2 years, and for those 2 years I was going through some major, harsh stuff. For those 2 years I was homeless, pregnant, abused, and raped. I just pray everyday that I don’t have to see him ever again. I’m personally scarred. I have PTSD from this man and I can’t deal with it.
You mentioned that you were homeless. Are you currently homeless?
No, it’s my first place that I’ve ever had that I can call my own. I’ve never had that and I pray to God that I will have it until the end.
May I ask what caused the homelessness?
My mom got evicted from York Creek by the baby daddy because he was causing issues. My mom and my baby sister left to go live with my older sister. I had to get left behind because there wasn’t enough room in the car, but they said if there was enough room in the car I would’ve been taken with them. So, they left and I got left behind. Still, to this day, my mom cries and says she wishes she would’ve taken me that day. When they left I became homeless. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I was 17 at the time. A little baby in the streets not knowing what to do.
So, you’re left there in the parking lot. What what the first step after that?
To find somewhere to stay. I was worried about when I was going to eat again because I didn’t have food stamps or state ID. I left with nothing.
And where did you go?
I stayed on the street. I stayed in a park, under a tree, hoping that it was not going to rain because it looked a little cloudy that night.
So you went from York Creek in the Comstock Park area to Downtown Grand Rapids area?
Yes, and that’s where I stayed for two years. Then I met this awesome place called Unlimited Alternatives. It is a rehab center, but they took me in. They have washers, dryers, showers, computers, stove, a kitchen, and a food pantry. That place really helped me out when I was homeless. I went there everyday. It was open from 8am to 4pm. So it was a very good time for me to stay warm.
In the evening, when those doors closed, what happened?
I went down to Rosa Parks Circle and I would spend my time there. Or I would go to the library or I would go to GrandLAN, which is a video game place. When those places closed I would find a place to stay in an abandoned apartment. Through two summers, fall, and winters that’s where I stayed. That abandoned apartment.
Were there others there with you? Or were you alone?
It was just me and the baby daddy. We stayed in the abandoned apartment. Just somewhere we could stay warm and put our stuff. Everyday I was always scared because I didn’t want to wake up to guns pointing in my face telling me to get out or getting arrested for trespassing. But I didn’t want to stay outside. I wanted to be safe. So I took my own risk and stayed in the abandoned apartment.
Did your family know you were homeless?
I didn’t inform my family of any of it. I didn’t want them to worry. If my mom has a little bit of stress, it could kill her. I didn’t want my mom or sisters to feel any stress or worry about me. I didn’t want them to feel bad for me. I need to be strong and I don’t need anyone to feel bad, because they need to be strong too.
What are your plans for the future Mortisha? You’re sitting here and you’re 19 years old, you’ve completed the 11th grade, but as you look ahead with the responsibility of a child, what do you envision as of next year?
I’m going to Youth Build which is a place that helps you with your GED. My sister just graduated from there. From her whole process being there, she’s now a certified construction work, she’s a first aid, she got her driver’s license and her GED. That’s what I want to do. I want to become a construction worker, I want to become a first aid, I want to get my driver’s license. That would be something really cool. But then when I get done with school, I want to go into cosmetology for horror films. I love horror films. That’s something I’d love to do. Doing makeup for horror films. Dead skin and blood.
Mortisha, you mentioned a few minutes ago about being homeless, having a baby and having a boyfriend. Walk us through that. That is something that has impacted you and will carry forward through your adult life. Here you are in Grand Rapids, a homeless teenage, tell us about that.
After my mom left when I was 17, I had to find a place to stay. I found different places to stay on different nights. A year and a half after being homeless I found out I was pregnant. Remember, I stayed with my boyfriend for two years. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought that was going to change him and make things better, but it actually made things worse. He constantly told me I should get an abortion and that we weren’t ready, but I’m not going to kill a kid just because I’m not ready and you’re gonna be selfish. I’m going to have this kid and I’m going to do everything I can to make this right. Well, nine months later, here comes my daughter. I had to have a C-section because she got stuck in my pelvic bone. Being a first time mom and never having a C-section was scary.
He would never help me. My boyfriend never helped me with the baby. At that time, I was taking care of two families. The family I was living with had three kids that I was taking care of because the mother didn’t do anything besides sit on her bed and be on Facebook. So I took care of their kids and my newborn baby. My baby daddy didn’t help out with the our baby either because the crying would get to him and he would go insane and not take care of her.
Elaborate on your boyfriend a little bit. You mentioned that he beat you.
Yes, he beat me everyday. When I was 4 months pregnant, he raped me because he was blackout drunk. He told me he didn’t remember, but I told him I did. I wasn’t the one doing drugs or getting blackout drunk. I remember all of it. I was sober for nine months. He constantly called me a liar and denied what he did.
So why did you stick with this guy?
I didn’t know where to go. He said he was homeless before. That’s one thing I can say that he did. He kept me safe, he made sure I ate everyday, and he kept me warm. That’s the only positive thing that happened when I was homeless.
Were you afraid?
I was scared! I was so scared because I didn’t know if I was going to get jumped, raped, or die. Especially during the winter. These past two winters were crazy with all the snow.
So what was the turning point? You found an apartment and had your daughter, but you lived there until that fell apart and you had to get out.
Yeah, after that I stayed in Mel Trotters for three months and from there I found this amazing guy. I never knew a guy as amazing as him existed. He helped me through so much and got me out of situations that I couldn’t get myself out of. I am very blessed that I met this man.
When you look back on your childhood Morticia, what is your saddest memory?
That would have to be when my baby sister was raped. That was the saddest thing because I was in still in school at the time and my sister brought me into the bedroom and said that grandpa is downstairs with Nina doing dirty things. So I went downstairs to the basement and said something and he got off of her. I told Nina to get upstairs and we locked ourselves in the bedroom until my mom got home from work.
Was he your mother’s father?
Yes.
Was this a first time event or something that happened before?
I heard it happened in the past but I had never seen it firsthand. So, when I got home from school and saw it, I was furious. I also felt guilt on myself because I felt I could’ve stopped it.
And then what happened? Did anyone tell on grandpa?
No.
Do you know if anything like that happened again?
No, after a little while my grandpa got really sick. His muscles and bones basically stopped working. He was a lot like a vegetable. So, me and my sisters had to help take care of him. We had to pick him up from the chair and carry him to the potty. I helped take care of this man who hurt my family.
So nobody told your mother what he had done?
No, we all told her. My sister actually took my other sister to a movie to get her out of the house so we could tell our mom one on one.
How did your mother receive that?
She was scared and furious. My grandpa was 70 at the time so she didn’t feel like she could really do anything.
Besides what happened with your grandpa, is there anything you wish didn’t happen with your family?
I don’t know, more than anything I wish my family was back together. I want my family to be back together so bad. Our family is spread out everywhere do to living arrangements. We don’t get to see each other much, but now that I have my own place, my younger sister comes over every now and then to get together. She’s actually coming over today!
You’ve walked us through your plan for the immediate future, and those are all great goals and I hope they workout, but where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
I see myself running my own horror shop that has makeup and costumes. Something like the Kostume Room, but a little different from that. I’ve also always wanted to run my own gothic, metal bar. That’s something that I really want to do because I’ve never seen one of those in Grand Rapids.
Mortisha, thank you for sharing your story with us today. You have a lot of responsibilities and some lofty goals for yourself. If you keep your nose down and have people around you who encourage you, you’ll be able to reach them all. We wish you nothing but the best!
These are the kind of stories I love to share – humble, inspiring, and motivational. It’s a call, or rather a scream, to action to help others.
Warmth Warriors taking it to the streets of GR last Thursday.
The “others” in this story are the homeless of downtown Grand Rapids.
It’s hard for anyone to ignore the harsh conditions we’ve experienced this winter. The brutal weather over the last couple months has had little positive impact on most people’s lives in West Michigan. I’m sticking with the positive notion that all this bluster will eventually raise the lake levels. But between all the accidents and slide offs, the round-the-clock snow removal routine, and the cabin fever epidemic, there’s been little good to say about the season. Until now.
Kerri Banyas of Hudsonville and Rhiannon Bosse of Rockford are two Facebook friends who paid close attention to the weather like everyone else. But with every mind-numbing forecast they thought of something else – the survival of the homeless.
“Every time a storm would hit, I’d wonder and worry, how are they ever going to survive?” says Banyas, admitting it was God’s whispers to her heart that finally made her take action. “I got tired of wondering so I talked about it with my Facebook friends and the obvious came up – ‘Let’s go hand out blankets!”
That was three weeks ago. Coincidentally (or not as God does work in mysterious ways), one of the women, Amber Brooks, has a photography studio called 87 Orange Photography on Division near Degage Ministries – a perfect location for the troops to rally. For now, Thursday evenings seem to be a good meeting time for the Warriors to gather and distribute protection from the cold. So far, these volunteers are all women, most of them moms, who come from all parts of greater Grand Rapids, plus Holland and Cascade, to distribute cups of hot coffee while offering blankets, hats, gloves and socks to the homeless along Division.
“At first, we gave away things we weren’t using at home,” explains Banyas. “I, myself, only had two blankets to donate. We knew we had to get more items to give out every week in order to keep this effort going.”
That’s when Bosse, the social media expert of the bunch, dedicated a Facebook page to the effort of “Warmth Warriors.”
Now Banyas says it is taking off.
Donations to Warmth Warriors have to be sorted and organized before distribution. Photo by Kerri Banyas
“The word is getting out and people from all over Grand Rapids have been contacting us, asking how they can contribute. We’ve been able to collect coats, blankets, socks, hats and gloves to pass out to people in the area.
“Now all this effort is based on other people giving. It’s amazing how much other people want to help!”
She explains that because Warmth Warriors is based on social media, donations are being picked up by the volunteers. Every Thursday afternoon, the group meets to sort out the donated items, make coffee to hand out, and divides clothing into categories to distribute.
“They are so grateful for anything we give them,” Banyas says. “Often we meet a person wearing rags, certainly not appropriate for this weather, and offer them something warmer and they say, ‘Oh no thanks, I know someone who needs that more than I do – but I’ll take a coffee.’ My heart just goes out to these people – It is so humbling.”
New socks are welcomed by the homeless.
Warmth Warriors has been established for just three weeks and is growing in popularity every day. Banyas admits she doesn’t know where this will all lead, but for now, they are thrilled to be contacted to pick up donations. She recently added a link on their Facebook page to gofundme.com a fundraising web source for charitable organizations. Banyas says it helps them securely track donations from people wanting to help monetarily. “I’m fine if no one donates money though,” adds Banyas. “We’d rather have blankets, hats and gloves – and socks! They love warm socks! So many are wearing shoes that are worn out and filled with holes – a pair of warm socks really helps.”
Banyas points out that Warmth Warriors is not out to undermine the downtown ministries that are already there, nor do they want to enable homelessness. “There a a lot of great ministries here but they can’t do it all and they know that. We’ve actually been encouraged by Downtown Ministries for what we’re doing – basically walking down the street handing out coffee and blankets. We hope we can inspire others to do the same.”
For now, Warmth Warriors are focusing on assisting the homeless downtown, but that doesn’t mean that’s where they’ll stay. “As a matter of fact, we are trying to locate other areas where homeless people gather to reach out to them. This effort can really go any where there is a need,” Banyas says.
To find out more and how you can become involved in this effort, visit the Warmth Warriors Facebook page.
Each year, communities across the country conduct a point-in-time (PIT) count of homeless individuals. On January 27, 2016, the PIT count for Kent County was 800 persons. While the majority of the homeless were in transitional or emergency shelter that particular evening, over 5% were identified as being unsheltered. This means they were sleeping without shelter in the harsh winter weather.
the root causes of homelessness, such as access to affordable housing. Whether you generate awareness on social media or make a call to your legislators about the issue, using your voice is an inexpensive way to help fight homelessness.
