You’ve got to have a network that you trust above yourself. We always see ourselves less than what we are, and sometimes you have to trust the voices of those around you.
Community enCompass By the Numbers: 2020 Annual Report
Celebrating Mary Jamieson: The Mary Jamieson Down Payment Assistance Fund
This last decade of work would not have been possible without Mary’s joy, generosity, and guidance. She lived with us in a state of possibility. She knew the value of core city Muskegon--her home--and that knowledge guided how she lived. To honor and celebrate Mary’s legacy, Community enCompass is establishing the Mary Jamieson Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Fund for families eligible to purchase an EACH house.
enCompass Affordable Community Housing Project Moving Forward!
Our Reflection on Connection at the End of 2020
A Life at Home: Investing in Senior Neighbors through Home Repair
The Phoenix to Welcome Tenants
Loss and Gain: Cancelling Taste and See 2020
Spring 2020: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Updates from Community enCompass Programs
Join Community enCompass in Being Neighbor
The COVID-19 crisis has had an unjust impact on our neighbors in core-city Muskegon, especially for neighbors who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained , and Employed).
Increased wage loss, food insecurity, and unemployment are on the rise. Many neighbors have seen their work hours reduced. Some are on a fixed income that doesn't leave room for the unexpected nature of sudden school closings or rising grocery costs. For many even a short stretch of unemployment will put them too far behind in rent to catch up.
Below are some ways Community enCompass will walk alongside our neighbors whose lives have been upended by this crisis. We need YOUR help to support our neighbors during this difficult time!
From eviction to ownership
Jennifer Hollins recently bought a house. Jennifer hadn't been planning on buying a house, until one day her landlord knocked on her door with an offer. “I had never thought about buying this place,” Jennifer said. “My landlord just knocked on my door one day and said, ‘I’m selling this house. Would you be willing to sign a land contract to own the property?’, and here we are!” Jennifer couldn’t believe her luck, “It was a good opportunity and I took it.”
Except, we have started at the end. This story begins months earlier when Jennifer was facing eviction, from the very home she now owns.
COVID-19 Update
Dear Neighbors,
In these uncertain times, Community enCompass’ priority is to continue to be neighbor. While “being neighbor” will look different over the coming weeks and months, you can be assured that we are fully operational and working together (while practicing social distancing!) to come up with creative solutions for how to continue to engage our community.
2019: Community enCompass by the numbers
Homeless in Muskegon
Hear the word “homeless” and what images come to mind? An older man, dressed in rags, possibly smelling of alcohol, holding a cardboard sign that asks for money, old blankets beneath him? While this image portrays a visible element of homeless in our country, many of us know that homelessness looks quite different.
FIGHTING EVICTION
In Muskegon County, the rate of eviction is 4 times higher than the national average! In response, community leaders have come together to address this community issue, creating the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP). Started as a pilot project a year ago and supported by funding from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, EPP gives families facing eviction the possibility of an “out”, the hope for stable housing
WHAT DID WE TASTE, WHAT DID WE SEE?
“I just wanted to say that this was one of THE BEST fund-raiser and educational events that we have EVER attended! I didn’t even know that it existed!” Our annual “Taste & See” Event marks the transition between these two seasons, and as such, we want to take one last look back, to savor what was tasted and seen at this year's event.
YEP'S Invest in Community!
We moved a house!
Kimi went in expecting to find some good wood, maybe some useful cabinets, possibly a piece or two of original trim, but what Kimi found blew her mind. “We have to save it!" Kimi said in awe as she wondered around this pristine example of a 1920’s craftsman's house. “It was stunning, to say the least.”
