Built to Last
ICCF COMMUNITY HOMES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cameron Young, Chair Behler-Young Company
Eunice Lopez Martin, Vice Chair Steelcase
Tom Prince, Treasurer Hungerford Nichols
Brianne Pitchford, Secretary Triangle Associates Inc.
Lee Hardy, Past Chair
Calvin University
Devetta Blakely
Cherry Health
Omar Brown
OA Private Capital
David Contant
BDR Custom Homes
Mary DeYoung
Gray Space Collaborative
Janice Dorsey
Arkenya Incorporated / SOWN
Alma Obande
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Ryan Ogle
Blu House Properties
Rick Treur
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Dear friends,
My life and work in ministry have taught me to be attentive to the Spirit's leading. As Henry Blackaby wisely said, we should look for "where God is working in your world – and join him in that work." At ICCF, we strive to do exactly this by seeking first to listen, then stepping into God's work in our community by faith.
This year marks an exciting milestone. ICCF has accepted an invitation from Community enCompass to continue a legacy of faithful care and community-building. Through this partnership, we will become the new steward of 25 homes that have long provided stability, affordability, and dignity to families in Muskegon's core neighborhoods.
True community development requires genuine proximity, and this new opportunity brings both promise and responsibility. Each month, we're committing intentional time in Muskegon – learning from local leaders, merging our efforts with theirs, and honoring the good work God is already accomplishing in this community, before we expand our services and work there.
You are central to this calling in West Michigan. With God’s provision and your prayers and generosity, we carry out this work in His name. As you read this issue of Blueprints, I hope you see how together we're carrying forward a faith-rooted legacy of housing and hope.
Grace and peace,
Ryan VerWys President and CEO rverwys@iccf.org
Building Community Through Play
A Partnership That’s Growing More Than Just Fun
This summer,ICCF Community Homes proudly continued our partnership with The PLAYGROUNDgr , a local nonprofit committed to making play accessible, healing, and inclusive for all. The PLAYGROUNDgr provides free and reduced-cost play-based workshops, therapy, and training— recognizing play as a powerful tool for supporting emotional health, mental wellness, trauma, grief, and attachment.
Together, we launched weekly play therapy sessions at Stockbridge Apartments that quickly became a highlight for residents of all ages. From mud art, rock stacking, and sensory activities, each week brought new ways to connect, heal, and grow. These experiences didn’t just spark
Built to Laugh
Donor & Volunteer Appreciation
In August, ICCF Community Homes had the joy of gathering with donors and volunteers for Built to Laugh, an evening dedicated to appreciation and community. Hosted at Wealthy
creativity and joy—they fostered community.
As the workshop series continued, a group of residents began meeting weekly to plan meals, cook for their neighbors, and help set up and clean up after events. These simple acts of care transformed Tuesday nights into something truly special: a space of belonging and community connection. Over 40 residents regularly joined in, and the energy in the building was unmistakable.
“My favorite thing about partnering with The PLAYGROUNDgr this year was the fact that each week felt like a celebration as well as a chance to bring the building together,” shared
Theatre, the event featured the fast-paced, hilarious improv group Pop Scholars , filling the night with laughter and connection.
More than just entertainment, the evening was a chance to reflect on the profound impact of our supporters. Because of their generosity and commitment, ICCF is able to provide affordable homes, create equitable opportunities, foster thriving
David Keller, ICCF's Building Site Manager & Community Connector for the Stockbridge Apartments. “It truly felt like the community at Stockbridge was growing and becoming more and more of a family.”
We’re deeply grateful to The PLAYGROUNDgr for their vision and commitment to healing through play. With every laugh, every shared meal, and every moment of connection, we see what’s possible when people come together with play at the heart of it all!
David Keller, Building Site Manager, Stockbridge
neighborhoods, and provide housing related services to over 2,000 people across West Michigan.
We are deeply grateful for every donor and volunteer who makes this mission possible. Built to Laugh was our way of saying thank you, celebrating the joy of community, and honoring the people who bring stability and hope to so many families. Together, we are building more than homes—we are building thriving neighborhoods.
Built to Last
A Faithful Partnership in Muskegon
Some chapters begin not with fanfare, but with trust—when one community turns to another and says, “Will you help carry this forward?”
That’s what’s happening in Muskegon.
This summer, ICCF Community Homes stepped into a new chapter—not to launch something brand new, but to lovingly continue a story of faith, neighborhood care, and housing justice that’s been unfolding in Muskegon for decades.
We’ve been invited by our friends at Community enCompass, an outreach started by Bethany Church in 1995, to carry forward work in the Nelson and McLaughlin neighborhoods of Muskegon—two places rich with history, resilience, and community strength. Through this partnership, ICCF will steward 25 homes that have provided stability, affordability, and dignity to families in Muskegon’s core city for years.
“This isn’t about taking over— it’s about joining in,” says Ryan VerWys, ICCF’s CEO. “We’re building on a legacy of love and presence, shaped by people who have long been doing the work of neighborly care and housing justice.”
What makes this partnership so meaningful is how deeply our roots align. Both ICCF and Community enCompass were born from churches that believed faith should be lived out, love of neighbor meant action, and healthy neighborhoods don’t just happen—they’re nurtured through relationships, intentional presence, and long-term commitment.
We carry a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe, stable place to live. That homes are more than buildings—they are the foundation for human flourishing.
A Vision That Lives On
In a housing market that’s pricing many out, especially those earning under $30,000 a year, as is the case for nearly 60% of renters in Muskegon (according to a 2023 Housing Needs Assessment), preserving affordable homes is one
Bethany Church
of the most loving, just, and urgent things we can do.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, and a newly established capital reserve fund, these 25 homes will remain permanently affordable and wellmaintained. ICCF will also be working toward adding even more affordable housing in Muskegon in the years to come.
But this is about more than homes.
“This transition is about preserving the strength and stability of our neighborhoods,” says Kimberly Leavell, Executive Director of Community enCompass. “ICCF shares our deep commitment to community, and we know they’ll carry this work forward with the same care and integrity.”
This Is the Kind of Growth We Believe In
It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s faithful.
It’s growth that happens because people trust each other. Because shared values point toward shared action. Because the kind of flourishing we want to see in the world only happens when we show up for one another.
Partnering in Faith
This past May, ICCF Community Homes launched Building with Faith, a $12 million campaign dedicated to creating affordable homes in partnership with local churches across West Michigan. At its heart, this effort is about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about honoring God, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring every family has a safe place to call home.
Over the next five years, this initiative will open doors for 200 families—100 through new affordable rental homes built on church-owned land, and 100 more by supporting first-time homeownership.
“Too many of our neighbors are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Building with Faith gives us the opportunity to come together as a community and transform unused church properties into places of hope and stability,” says Ryan VerWys.
Since the spring, generous donors have rallied behind this vision, bringing us to nearly 95% of our campaign goal. Their support is paving the way for a future where churches flourish as centers of care and where families can thrive in safe, affordable homes.
Let’s Build Together
To learn more or to join this effort, visit iccf.org/bwf, call 616-336-9333, or email buildingwithfaith@iccf.org
The Impact of You
Grand Haven Christian School Market Day
Fifth Graders Turn Classroom Businesses into Real-World Impact for Family Shelter
Amazing things can happen when a group of energetic fifth graders put their minds—and hearts—to work. Every spring at Grand Haven Christian School, students in Mr. Bob Koning's and Mr. Nicolas Correa's classes dive into entrepreneurship with a unique twist: their businesses donate their sales to a nonprofit organization chosen by the class.
While past classes have often supported international causes, this past spring’s students felt a deep connection to a need closer to
home: helping kids their own age who are experiencing homelessness. After learning more about the issue, the class selected Family Haven , ICCF Community Homes’ shelter for families, as the beneficiary of their efforts.
Students brainstormed and developed business plans for ventures ranging from baked goods and candy to jewelry, home décor, savory snacks, and favorite drinks. They even pitched their ideas to their local Fifth Third Bank branch, receiving feedback and revising their plans before launch.
Committed to a Hope-Filled Future
How well a person or family can handle present difficulties often depends on how hopeful they feel about the future.
There’s the rub for too many in a housing market like ours where rents and home prices seem to move in only one direction—UP! Hope dwindles to despair for those on the margins as their chances of getting ahead seem to fade away.
ICCF Community Homes strives to assure that all our neighbors can live in homes that promote stability, growth and hope. We do this by providing housing options
and services that not only relieve immediate need but also provide a path to long-term housing security.
This mission takes a years-long perspective and a bold commitment to the future. That perspective and commitment is represented by the more than 50 household who are members of ICCF’s Homes & Hope Legacy Society.
To learn more about joining them with a gift commitment to ICCF Community Homes in your will or estate plan, please visit iccf.org/ planned-gifts .
The result? A wildly successful Market Day, where students showcased their products, sharpened their customer service skills, and raised over $3,000 to support families staying at Family Haven.
Students presented a check to ICCF and it was clear just how much they had gained from the experience— not just in business skills, but in empathy, creativity, and a practical understanding of what it means to care for their neighbors. Our community’s future is brighter with a lifetime of impact ahead from these inspiring students.
“For decades we have deeply appreciated the ministry of ICCF Community Homes. We love ICCF’s core values of respect, opportunity and beauty which have made a transformative difference in people’s lives and in neighborhoods throughout Grand Rapids. We consider it a privilege to be part of this ministry now and through our estate plan.”
DUANE AND JEANNETTE KELDERMAN
Photo courtesy of Otto Selles Photography
Housing Pipeline
At ICCF Community Homes, we’re building more than homes—we’re building equity, opportunity, and thriving neighborhoods. Check out the latest projects from our Real Estate and Construction team:
THE SEYMOUR
The Seymour adds 27 condo units on the site of the former Seymour Christian School. Located in Alger Heights, one of Grand Rapids' most sought-after communities, The Seymour offers easy access to local shops, parks and schools, as well as provides residents with access to a shared courtyard and community room. This project will see new homeowners moving in as soon as September 2025!
SINGLE-FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOMES
ICCF completed the development of two new construction single-family homes on Logan and LaGrave Avenue this summer. These two homes will be sold as part of our Community Homes Land Trust initiative, ensuring the soon to be purchased homes will remain permanently affordable.
EASTERN APARTMENTS
MADISON APARTMENTS
Construction on apartments at 415 Adams and 1309 Madison are expected to be completed in 2026. These adjacent properties will add 45 apartments to the Madison Square neighborhood at the site of a former neighborhood grocery store that has been vacant since 2008.
The post office at 2017 Eastern Ave., just off Burton Street, isn’t going anywhere, but big changes are coming to the rest of the building. ICCF is actively turning this largely vacant space into 15 new apartments, including eight one-bedroom and seven two-bedrooms units. These apartments will be ready to lease in 2026.
