Un hogar en la colina

“Añade estrés y ansiedad… si gasto dinero en algo que necesito, me pregunto si me estoy arruinando para más adelante en el mes”.

Imagine por un momento su casa ideal en el condado de Kent. ¿Qué aspecto tiene? ¿Dónde se encuentra? ¿Hasta qué punto le supondría un reto vivir allí? La mayoría de nosotros podría responder a esas preguntas con cierta facilidad. Pero no todos los residentes en el condado de Kent pueden hacerlo. Para algunos, las barreras para poder vivir donde quieren pueden ser muchas y variadas. ¿Cómo puede haber un cambio en el sistema de vivienda para que todo el mundo pueda vivir en el barrio que elija?

En una nevada y borrascosa tarde de febrero, Nyesha Pieske tomó asiento en el sofá naranja del Heart of West Michigan United Way para hablar de sus experiencias. Aunque cada historia es diferente, y el periplo de Pieske en materia de vivienda ha dado muchas vueltas, ella comparte su visión sobre qué apoyo comunitario y cambios en el sistema podrían ayudarla a tener el lugar que será su hogar.

Reside actualmente en Grandville y trabaja como camarera en un restaurante local, donde pasa seis días a la semana. Pieske sabe lo que necesita ganar diariamente en propinas para hacer frente a todas sus obligaciones financieras cada mes. La economía ha hecho que su trabajo sea algo precario y es difícil saber si las horas necesarias llegarán. Un turno de cuatro horas puede convertirse en un turno de ocho horas si el restaurante se llena o un compañero de trabajo no está disponible. O si las cosas van despacio, podría significar menos horas, lo que se traduce en menos propinas.

“Todos los días compruebo mis finanzas para ver cuánto tendré que ganar para pagar todas mis facturas”, dice Pieske. “No gano un dinero horrible, pero teniendo en cuenta la cantidad de tiempo que dedico, no gano un buen dinero”.

Pieske vive cerca de su lugar de trabajo, razón de peso para elegirlo. Tiene un apartamento de un dormitorio con patio para su perro. Aunque le encanta su casa, no es su hogar.

¿Dónde está su casa?

Durante su infancia, Pieske vivió “en lo alto de la colina”, frente a la Milla Médica de Grand Rapids. Sus primeros recuerdos incluyen el Parque Lookout, donde pasaba el tiempo jugando. “Si pudiera vivir en cualquier lugar del condado de Kent, me gustaría volver a vivir allí. Mis mejores recuerdos están allí”, dijo Pieske. “Tendría una gran casa victoriana. Siempre ha sido mi sueño. Y un patio para mi perro”.

¿Qué hace que este sueño sea un reto a alcanzar? Según Pieske, se trata de estabilidad: asegurarse de que puede llegar a fin de mes, pagar todas sus facturas y ahorrar para avanzar en el camino hacia la propiedad de la vivienda. A veces, incluso pagar las necesidades básicas ha sido un reto.

“Añade estrés y ansiedad… si gasto dinero en algo que necesito, me pregunto si me estoy arruinando para más adelante en el mes”.

La lucha de Pieske por llegar a fin de mes no es nueva. Dejó su anterior piso porque se estaba retrasando en el pago del alquiler. Antes de que el propietario solicitara el desahucio, se mudó y pagó lo que debía, con lo que su expediente de vivienda quedó en buen estado.

Los ingresos pueden ser un obstáculo para los inquilinos a la hora de determinar dónde vivir en el condado de Kent. La capacidad del empleador para pagar salarios más altos que permitan a las familias y a los individuos gastar menos del 30% de sus ingresos mensuales en vivienda no ha seguido el ritmo del coste de la vida, lo que significa que su vivienda es asequible y no están sobrecargados por los costes. Actualmente, el 48% de los inquilinos del condado están sobrecargados por los costes. Basta una factura médica inesperada o la reparación de un coche para que una familia se retrase en el pago del alquiler o los servicios públicos, lo que provoca estrés y ansiedad añadidos, así como problemas de salud mental y física.

Mientras buscaba un nuevo lugar donde vivir, Pieske se alojaba donde podía: en casa de amigos, en su coche… una mezcla de situaciones que acabó conectándola con Michelle VanDyke.

Michelle VanDyke es presidenta de Heart of West Michigan United Way. “Conocí a Michelle cuando era un sin techo y vivía en mi coche. Ha estado conmigo todo el tiempo, incluso en mis fracasos. Ha sido la única persona que ha estado ahí”. Pieske afirma que el apoyo de Michelle le ha ayudado a seguir adelante, sabiendo que hay alguien a su lado, animándola y ayudándola cuando lo necesita.

Encontrar un lugar

Tras mudarse del apartamento, Nyesha tardó ocho meses en encontrar su actual espacio en Grandville. Y aunque no tenía un desahucio en su expediente, había mucho que hacer antes de poder mudarse. “Tuve que conseguir un avalista para los tres primeros meses, para demostrar que podía hacer frente al alquiler”. Aunque el alquiler mensual es de 950 $, tuvo que aportar 1.250 $ para la fianza y contratar un seguro de alquiler, que supone 30 $ más al mes. Esto no incluye los servicios públicos, la gasolina del coche, el seguro del coche, el teléfono móvil o la compra.

“Habría sido útil que me hubieran informado sobre vivienda y finanzas. Nadie me enseñó a tener un contrato de alquiler, por qué tu crédito es importante; ni siquiera a saber dónde conseguir ciertos documentos”, dijo Pieske. “Me decían que tenía que llevar una serie concreta de documentos y yo no sabía de dónde tenía que sacarlos”.

Nyesha dijo que su experiencia con el sistema de vivienda hasta ahora ha estado plagada de falta de seguimiento, de no tener información precisa sobre los programas disponibles para los que cumplía los requisitos y de que algunos en el sistema hicieran suposiciones sobre ella. “La gente asumía que era vago o que no me interesaba aprender”.

Avanzar

A pesar de los retos y contratiempos, Pieske afirma que hay cosas que pueden ayudarla a avanzar hacia su sueño de esa casa victoriana en la colina. “Clases para que la gente que se está poniendo las pilas entienda cosas, como una clase de presupuesto. Si no se enseña en casa, ¿dónde se aprende?”. “Me pasé horas en vídeos de YouTube© para aprender”. También tomó clases de finanzas y señala que va por detrás de los demás porque empezó tarde, incluso comprendiendo la necesidad de la información.

Algún día, Pieske espera comprarse una casa y, con suerte, en la colina, cerca de Lookout Park. Aunque actualmente le parezca un poco exagerado, afirma: “Nadie que yo conozca tiene una casa en propiedad y, si la tiene, no es su casa ideal. Yo quiero ser propietaria de una casa”.

Lo que le hace mirar hacia un futuro mejor y más brillante es su perspectiva. “No estoy donde quiero estar. Me va mejor que en el pasado, pero no me siento realizada. Necesito hacer cosas diferentes a las que vi en mi familia mientras crecía, para poder tener algo diferente.” Pieske dijo: “Es un juego mental. Tuve que cambiar mi forma de verlo. Tuve que pasar del ‘no lo he conseguido’ al ‘he sobrevivido’. Puedes seguir adelante. Puede que tarde un minuto en darme cuenta, pero lo superaré”.

Nota del autor: El periplo de Nyesha en materia de vivienda es uno de tantos con circunstancias similares en el condado de Kent. Aunque la oferta de diversos programas y la formación, como los cursos de alfabetización financiera, pueden ser útiles, no se traducen automáticamente en la eliminación de barreras dentro del sistema de la vivienda. Estas barreras incluyen la discriminación racial, los requisitos de ingresos, el historial crediticio, los antecedentes penales, etc. Housing Kent está trabajando con organizaciones, tanto privadas como públicas, organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro y particulares para lograr un impacto colectivo en el sistema de vivienda del condado de Kent. Trabajamos para aumentar el número de viviendas asequibles, acabar con la falta de vivienda y eliminar las disparidades raciales en el condado de Kent.

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Driving Directions

Fulton Lot Driving Directions: MapQuest/Google Maps Address 312 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

From Chicago: I94 East to I196/US31 (Exit 34) at Benton Harbor. Take I196 toward Grand Rapids to US131 South. Take US131 South to Pearl Street exit (keep to the right of the onramp to US131 as this becomes the offramp for Pearl Street). You will then merge onto Mt. Vernon Ave. Continue on Mt. Vernon until you come to a light at Fulton St, turn left here. Under the US131 Overpass, the Fulton Lot will be on your right. Approximately 200 miles from Chicago. PLEASE NOTE: Michigan is one hour ahead of Illinois (EST).

From Detroit/Lansing: I96 West to I196 West (Gerald R. Ford Freeway) to US131 South. Take US131 South to the Market Street exit (keep to the right of the onramp to US131). Turn left onto Market from the exit. Turn left on Fulton. Under the US131 Overpass, the Fulton Lot will be on your left. Approximately 2 hours from Detroit, and 60 minutes from Lansing.

From Holland: I196 East to US131 South. Take US131 South to the Pearl Street exit (keep to the right of the onramp to US131 as this becomes the offramp for Pearl Street). You will then merge onto Mt. Vernon Ave. Continue on Mt. Vernon until you come to a light at Fulton St, turn left here. Under the US131 Overpass, the Fulton Lot will be on your right. Approximately 30 miles from Holland.

From Kalamazoo: US131 North to the Pearl Street Exit, #85B. Turn left onto Pearl Street and proceed one block beyond the US131 overpass to Mt Vernon Ave and turn left, in two blocks turn left on Fulton St. The Fulton Lot will be on your right. Approximately 50 miles from Kalamazoo.

From Muskegon: I96 East to US131 South. US131 South to the Market Ave Exit. Turn Left on to Market, and then Left on Fulton St. The Fulton Lot will be on your left. Approximately 45 miles from Muskegon.

From Northern Michigan: US131 South to the Market Ave Exit. Turn Left on to Market, and then Left on Fulton St. The Fulton Lot will be on your left. Approximately 150 miles from Traverse City.

KPI 3 — Homelessness

Map

Dora Ferrier Headshot

Dora Ferrier

Executive Assistant

Dora Ferrier proudly serves as the Executive Assistant to Eureka People. Her career has been characterized by substantial contributions in positions focused on enhancing organizational efficiency, relationship development, and community outreach. Dora excels in introducing change management initiatives, ensuring flawless project execution, and boasts certifications in both Microsoft Office and ChatGPT. She also holds a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, leveraging her expertise to support refugees and non-native English speakers in their community integration efforts. Dora is a skilled public speaker, providing invaluable insight and assistance to child protective workers and law enforcement personnel in identifying signs of child abuse. Dora’s heartfelt mission centers around elevating the quality of life for underprivileged Kent County residents and promoting community empowerment as a catalyst for positive change.

KPI 3 — Homelessness

Cumulative Homeless Count

Source: Continuum of Care System Performance Measures (US Department of Housing and Urban Development)

About Rental Housing Affordability

An estimate of how much annual household income is needed to rent an apartment at a particular price.

Source: Housing Kent

Our Methods
We define housing costs as affordable if they consume 30% or less of gross household income.

About Typical Rent Costs

A measure of typical monthly rent for an apartment in the middle cost tier, defined as the 40th to 60th percentile.
Our Methods
The ZORI is published on a monthly basis. To calculate an annual figure, we take an average of the monthly figures.

About Homeownership Affordability

An estimate of how much annual household income is needed to purchase a home at a particular price.

Source: Housing Kent

Our Methods
We assume current interest rates, a 3% downpayment, and $500 in outside household debt.
Alex

Meet Alex Kontras, M.P.A.

Senior Director of Data and Policy

Alex Kontras is the Senior Director of Data and Policy at Housing Kent. Alex’s passion for housing justice, combined with his experience in public policy, housing crisis response, and data-informed decision-making adds immeasurable value to our team. Previously Alex worked with Public Sector Consultants, translating federal special education policy into data-driven collaboration tools for the Michigan Department of Education. Prior to that, at the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Alex managed programs in supportive housing, rapid-rehousing, and homelessness prevention. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Calvin University.
Adisa

Meet Adisa Chaney, M.S.W.

Senior Director of Community Engagement and Equity

Adisa Chaney is the Senior Director of Community Engagement and Equity for Housing Kent. An experienced community organizer, facilitator, and thought partner, Adisa has worked extensively with politically and economically marginalized communities to build capacity and support residents’ efforts to effect change in their communities. He currently teaches at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University Schools of Social Work, principally focusing on courses involving community engagement, grant-writing, and social work in and with communities of color. His work in recent years has included development and administration of several community projects in the metro Detroit area, as well as being responsible for the training and evaluation of community facilitators for foundation initiative. The initiative is a collaborative partnership with an area school district, focused on improving educational outcomes of K-12 youth in economically disadvantaged communities in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

TIana

Meet Tiana Hawver, M.S.

Communications Manager

Tiana Hawver is the Communications Manager for Housing Kent. Tiana has over 15 years in marketing, public relations, and communications, including 10 in marketing and media. Prior to joining Housing Kent, she served as the Office Coordinator for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University for five years. Tiana is a gifted speaker and writer, and produced a documentary, “Reconnecting the Dots,” sharing her journey as an adult adoptee reconnecting with her birth family. Tiana has a Master of Science in Communication from Grand Valley State University.

Housing Kent Headshots Eureka 32

Meet Eureka People, M.A.

President

Eureka People has answered the call to lead as President of Housing Kent’s efforts to dissolve homelessness, increase affordable housing, and eliminate the shocking racial disparities in the housing system in Kent County. Prior to accepting this position, Eureka spent 10 years as Principal Consultant of her own strategy and facilitation consultancy specializing in systems change for nonprofits, foundations, and government. In this capacity, she developed strategies for a foundation initiative, facilitated the design of a school district’s nationally recognized attendance campaign and strategic plan, facilitated a nonprofit’s community development project, and facilitated another nonprofit’s board of trustees leadership experience program, among other projects.  She then guided the Housing Stability Alliance network to the building of a roadmap to address housing inequities and racial disparities. It was this that led to her being asked to apply to lead further housing efforts here in Kent County.

Eureka’s career before extensive consulting in Kent County included several years as VP of Finance and Operations for the National Community Development Institute in Oakland, California. She also served three years as Associate Pastor of Assimilation and Discipleship at Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before being drawn to humanitarian and nonprofit work, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Eureka worked as a Project Engineer for Eli Lilly & Company in Indiana.

Eureka has recently moved to Grand Rapids and looks forward to getting to know her new home and to leading our community to greater awareness of and motivation to addressing and healing one of our most pervasive and limiting societal problems.

Eureka holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, M.A. in Theology.

Operationalizing the Common Agenda and Roadmap

With the release of the community plan in August 2020, KConnect completed the work that it had committed to accomplishing when agreeing to take on the project in 2018. The four co-chairs of the Housing Stability Alliance – Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Chair Mandy Bolter, Lynne Ferrell, and Christina Keller – committed to moving the Alliance forward. However, without a backbone organization focused solely on advancing the movement, it lost momentum. It was apparent that it was necessary to quickly get a backbone in place in order to keep the work moving forward. After a series of discussions, KConnect agreed to partner with the Alliance co-chairs to temporarily take the lead to create a nonprofit organization that served as a backbone for the Alliance’s work.

The role of KConnect was NOT to serve as the Alliance backbone. However, we served as temporary support to launch the permanent backbone that became Housing Kent. Launched in February 2022, the new organization is its own 501c3 with its own bank account, bylaws, and five-year budget.

The Second Phase

We delivered a common agenda and roadmap that has created and sustained a movement to build systems between sectors and empowers lived experience to dissolve housing instability and homelessness for children and families from the landscape of Kent County.

The scope and agreed-upon purpose of the last six months of work is presented to the side. Creating an equitable housing system will not happen overnight. It will decades of hard work and dedication from the entire community. However, if 2019 was any indication that the Kent County communities share a passion for this issue, we are well poised to create change.

Scope

Recognizing the disparate overrepresentation of families of color among homeless populations, our work through June 2020 will be focused on creating a community framework that will reduce the disparity in our housing efforts over the next five years.

Purpose Statement

Increase access to quality affordable housing and dissolve homelessness in Kent County with an intentional focus on eliminating racial disparities among families, children, and youth and other data-driven priorities.

Getting Started: The First Twelve Months

In May 2018 concerned community stakeholders asked KConnect to bring people together to examine how the housing system is working, establish shared goals, and develop collaborative strategies to reach those goals with a focus on children, families, youth, and people of color. KConnect initiated its work in Fall 2018, KConnect began a yearlong process to convene organizations, funders, and other stakeholders within the housing and homeless system. Together we will develop a comprehensive community plan specifically calling for equitable outcomes for children and families.

This work was originally anticipated to be completed in December 2019. However, in October 2019, after careful consideration and reflection, the Board of Trustees approved a request from the Design Team for a six-month extension in order to create a more comprehensive community plan. During the final months, the teams will move into a collaborative designing phase.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of our work is to align and connect system-level interventions that address homelessness and increase access to housing. Strategies must be intentionally designed with the end user in mind and targeted to people of color.

Mission Statement

The mission is to increase access to affordable housing and decrease homelessness for families, children, and youth, with an intentional focus on eliminating racial disparities in Kent County.