Since July of 2023, the Shelter Diversion program has become a vital part of what Good Samaritan does in Ottawa County to respond to poverty and homelessness. Our program has diverted over 400 individuals from entering our county’s shelter throughout the last two years and has brought much needed relief to our homeless response system. The flexible funding has given us options we haven’t had before to provide realistic, cost effective, and proactive solutions to housing instability, which has been empowering for our specialists and those we serve to be able to identify safe and appropriate housing solutions.

Read more about the success of the pilot program across the state here: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-new-push-fight-homelessness-it-begins?utm_source=Bridge+Michigan&utm_campaign=422bd5e9d6-Bridge+Newsletter+02%2F18%2F2025&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c64a28dd5a-422bd5e9d6-82871412