ICCF Community Homes - Blueprints, Spring 2019

In This Issue A Message from Our CEO Impact of You 2019 Gala Family Profiles

"FAMILY HAVEN GAVE US OUR CLEAN START." Read Candice's story on page 6.

ICCF's New Home

Blueprints SPR ING 2 0 1 9

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO ICCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrew Miedema, Chair

Mercantile Bank

Johana Rodriguez Quist, Vice Chair Literacy Center of West Michigan Marjorie Dood, Treasurer Montage, Inc. Arlen-Dean Gaddy, Secretary Lambert Jamecia Adams Keller Williams Realty Kevin Einfeld BDR Custom Homes William Jackson Spectrum Health Teresa Jones Christian Reformed Church in North America Rhoda Kreuzer Partners in Action, Inc. Jason Kuiper Inontime, Inc. Tom Paarlberg Greenridge Realty

GO GREEN & STAY UP TO DATE WITH ICCF

Dear ICCF friends and partners, When I gave my presentation at ICCF’s 2019 Houses to Homes Gala, I recounted my family’s story of having our power knocked out by February’s ice storms. We had to find alternate housing for just three days, but for far too many families, displacement is a continual crisis.

We know that homelessness puts kids at risk of emotional and behavioral problems, serious health problems, separation from family, and poor academic performance. The best way to help avert these current and future crises is stable housing. That’s why I am so grateful that in 2018, God used ICCF to help 141 families who faced homelessness, including more than 340 children.

At the Gala, we heard stories from two of these families.

Bryan had found himself suddenly without a home, with no landlords wanting to take him on. ICCF gave him stability with an affordable home through the Community Homes Initiative. Candice went from living at a campground to finding a permanent home through the dedication of Family Haven’s staff. You can read their stories in this issue of Blueprints.

We also heard from Ukinya, who had longed to purchase a home for herself and her daughter, but didn’t feel like she had the resources to get started.

She was able to achieve her dream through ICCF’s homeownership and finance classes and an Individual Development Account. Now she is creating generational wealth and shoring up her family’s future. After moving into their new home, she said: “My daughter told me, ‘Mom, I don’t want anything to ever happen to you, but if it does, this house isn’t leaving our family.’ We just don’t have to worry about anyone coming to take that away from us.”

All of us at ICCF are grateful that we get to play a part in not only stemming the tide of crisis but also changing generational stories. To everyone who joined us at the Gala, and the many who have donated, volunteered, prayed, and offered expertise, we are blessed because you have stood up for affordable housing in Grand Rapids. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sign up for the e-version of Blueprints today!

Contact Marie Tiemersma Eakin at mtiemersmaeakin@iccf.org or call (616) 336-9333.

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Ryan VerWys President and CEO rverwys@iccf.org

B L U E P R I N T S Spring 2019

IMPACT OF YOU: EBENEZER AWARD RECIPIENTS "Thus Far the Lord has Helped Us." 1 Samuel 7:12 In 1 Samuel chapter 7, and throughout scripture, when God did something significant his people would set up a stone to mark the event. Samuel named their stone "Ebenezer," which means "stone of help." Each year, ICCF awards those that have helped ICCF advance its mission of housing justice and equity by giving of their time, talent, and treasure. This year's Ebenezer Award winners were Lloyd Reed and Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

LLOYD REED, REAL ESTATE AGENT AND BROKER

EASTERN AVENUE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

Lloyd Reed has been championing the mission and vision of ICCF for 18 years as a volunteer, donor, and service provider. Lloyd has taught ICCF’s Introduction to Homeownership class to thousands of students and has also represented ICCF in the purchase and sale of more than 100 properties. He is a first-time homebuyer advocate, believing there is a great need for access to information and education regarding the purchase of a first home.

The Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church is where The Inner City Christian Federation got its start! In 1974 eight church families came together to restore a home in the Baxter neighborhood. For more than 45 years, their congregation has been providing volunteers for work projects, members for its board of directors, and financial resources. Most recently, they partnered with ICCF on the 501 Eastern project and completed the renovation of a home as part of the Community Homes Initiative.

Lloyd Reed

Representatives of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church

LUNCH & LEARN:

April 25 | May 23 | September 26

For more than 45 years, ICCF has sought to make places to come home to. Want to learn more about our mission and vision and how you can make an impact in neighborhoods throughout greater Grand Rapids? Join us for a Lunch and Learn event from noon to 1PM to learn more and get involved.

RSVP to Marie Tiemersma Eakin at (616) 336-9333 ext 411 or mtiemersmaeakin@iccf.org

B L U E P R I N T S Spring 2019

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“I’m home!” Those words filled the screens at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids to start off a powerful evening. More than 525 guests gathered on March 14 to celebrate the work of ICCF turning houses into homes, raising more than $185,000 to continue that good work.

Michelle Covington, VP of Advancement, opened by sharing a story from Don Fredricks, an ICCF Construction Supervisor retiring after 18 years. Don knows his work has made a difference when a family comes to see their new home for the first time. Recently at an ICCF staff huddle, he recounted the joy of the moment when a child runs into their new home and exclaims, “this is going to be my room!”

As the evening continued, Ryan VerWys, CEO of ICCF, compared the housing market in Grand Rapids to a game of musical chairs. In the game, if you are fast or big and can push people over, you win. In the housing market, if you have significant income, you win and those with low and moderate incomes get pushed out. In the midst of this

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challenging environment, ICCF does all that we can so that everyone has a home. In 2018, 929 individuals graduated from ICCF’s homeownership and financial classes, 518 people participated in housing counseling, and 23 became homeowners using ICCF matched savings accounts. More than 129 new, affordable homes will be built by December 2019. Thanks be to God. We are grateful to Candice, Ukinya, and Bryan for sharing their stories throughout the night, and to Debra Alexander and BEDROCK for their engaging musical performance.

We are encouraged by and thankful for all of those who came to support and celebrate transformation in the lives of our neighbors and throughout our community.

The evening ended with a blessing, and the words from the Prophet Isaiah, ““My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” (Isaiah 32:18).

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Thank You

TO OUR 2019 GALA SPONORS

PAT R O N S P O N S O R S

Ajacs American Classic Roofing & Building Supply Jonathan and Grace Bradford Bredeweg & Zylstra CPAs Bultema Group Bill and Annette Byl Cinnaire Comerica Bank Double O Inc. Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, & Huber, Inc. Greenridge Realty Inc. Growtrust Partners Team Izenbart/Finance of America Mortgage

Duane and Jeannette Kelderman

GRAND SPONSORS

Lake Michigan Credit Union Lumbermen's Mercantile Bank Old National Bank Olivier-VanDyk Insurance Plante Moran PLLC Steve and Amy Ruis Standard Lumber/ Standard Kitchens Steve Volkers Group Steve and Barb Timmermans Randall and Twyla VanderLugt Bill and Pat Waanders

FRIEND SPONSORS

Martin and Melissa Balk

Laura and Jay Hoekstra

Beene Garter LLP

McGraw Construction

Bellabay Realty

Andrew & Amanda Miedema

Marc and Claudia Beversluis Emily Brink CapTrust ChoiceOne Bank Concept Design Studio, Inc. Custer, Inc. DeStigter Architecture & Planning

Modern Hardware Monsma Marketing Corporation Nederveld Inc. Overhead Door Company of Grand Rapids Perrigo Printing PNC Bank Pries Supply Inc.

DeVos Insulation

RDG Funds LLC

DHE

River Ridge Dentistry Dr. Jeff Helmus

Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids Eikenhout Inc. Elite Precision Remodeling, LLC Etna Supply Company Express Employment Professionals Fence Consultants First American Title Insurance Company Genesis Non-Profit Housing Corporation Hilbrands Landscape

B L U E P R I N T S Spring 2019

B E N E FAC TO R S P O N S O R S

CHAMPION SPONSORS

Spectrum Health Swift Printing & Communications Top Notch Painting LLC Truss Technologies/West Michigan Truss Valley City Electronic Recycling Vander Kodde Construction VerWys Home Improvement West Michigan Glass Block, Inc.

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FAMILY PROFILES Bryan's Story

Bryan found out firsthand that anyone can end up homeless in just a day. In 2017, Bryan and his family were renting in a nice part of Grand Rapids when a few requests for repairs led his landlord to eventually evict him. He was able to use his savings to stay in a hotel, but that was not sustainable. When that ran out, he stayed in his car, working feverishly to find a new place without much progress.

“When you don’t have a home you lose heart...the Community Homes Initiative gave me my heart back.”

Bryan was connected with ICCF and stayed at Family Haven, where he found a safe space to plan his next move. Unbeknownst to him, the ICCF Community Homes Initiative was a way for him to secure affordable housing. The housing counselor working with Bryan looked at his situation and budget to find the perfect place for him and his children.

Candice's Story “The plan was to eventually buy a house.”

Candice’s family of five was living in a trailer park when her husband was laid off from his job and they were evicted. After months of living with different family members and at a campground, Candice got a call that ICCF had an opening at Family Haven. They were settled into a private apartment and began to form routines again. That's when things started to get better.

"Family Haven gave us our clean start."

ICCF helped them look for new housing, handed them daily job openings, and made them feel like someone was there to help. Candice's time at Family Haven allowed her and her loved ones to get their heads back together, start from a fresh place, and find a home of their own.

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B L U E P R I N T S Spring 2019

HOUSING PIPELINE Affordable Housing and ICCF’s New Home Starting this summer, we will begin renovations of the long-vacant building on the northeast corner of Madison and Franklin. Built in 1931, it has been home to Grand Rapids Christian High School and the Kent County Department of Human Services.

415 Franklin will be the future of home of ICCF’s headquarters.

By late 2020, ICCF will convert the top floors into 41 affordable apartments, and transform the first floor into

offices and programming space that we will share with Madison Square Church’s Ford Campus and an early childhood program run by the Refugee Education Center.

This is a major step for ICCF. It will be with a mix of emotions that we will move out of our current building that embodies our core values and where our work has thrived. This new home gives us the chance to redeem another unused, dilapidated building into a beautiful place for opportunity and impact. We are also thankful that this new space will be in closer proximity to the neighbors we work alongside, as 61% of our tenants and many of our class participants will be a short walk away.

EMBRACING HOUSING HOPE AND JUSTICE ...for Today and Tomorrow ICCF is dedicated to equitable opportunity and affordable homes for vulnerable households and neighborhoods. Not just for today, but for the decades to come.

That’s why your giving – both now and in the future – is so critical. Many of ICCF’s long-standing friends are now considering how they can best live full and fruitful lives

in their retirement years. If you are now making decisions about how to be faithful stewards of your estate, you can help safeguard housing hope and justice in the years to come by including a gift to ICCF in your estate planning.

For more information about giving in your will, please contact Hank Kroondyk, ICCF Planned Giving Specialist, at hkroondyk@iccf.org or (616) 336-9333 x403 or visit iccf.org.

“ICCF is a wonderful force for good in our community and a beacon of hope for those who are homeless. It has been an important part of our giving in the past, and now, in retirement we are blessed to be able to make it a major part of our planned giving.”

B L U E P R I N T S Spring 2019

Jack & Joan Bosscher

7

920 Cherry Street SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506

OUR MISSION Equitable Opportunity | Affordable Homes | Thriving Neighborhoods P : ( 6 1 6 ) 3 3 6 - 9 3 3 3 | I CC F.O RG

“…WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A HOME YOU LOSE HEART… THE COMMUNITY HOMES INITIATIVE GAVE ME MY HEART BACK.” Read more about this year's Houses to Homes Gala inside.