“Kalamazoo County Approves $12M Contracts for Largest Transitional Family Shelter Set to Open by Year-End”

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has approved $12 million in construction and service contracts, advancing plans to open The Landing Place by year’s end. This transitional family shelter, set to be Michigan’s largest with 80 rooms, is being developed on the site of a former Country Inn & Suites hotel on East Kilgore Road. The project, led by Cornerstone Construction with a $1.38 million contract, will include an upgraded kitchen, dining area, indoor recreation, and childcare spaces, reflecting a commitment to safety, dignity, and rebuilding opportunities for families.

Jen Strebs, chair of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, emphasized the project’s dedication to creating a space of respect and support for families, aligning with best practices to ensure a welcoming environment. The remaining $10.8 million, approved on October 7, 2025, will fund operations for three years, with Family Promise Inc., a national nonprofit, managing the shelter. Family Promise will implement a low-barrier, trauma-informed, and housing-focused approach, prioritizing safety, dignity, and the pursuit of permanent housing solutions.

The Landing Place will offer comprehensive services, including daily meals, case management, housing navigation, childcare connections, and employment assistance, aiming to help families regain stability. This initiative comes in response to a rise in homelessness in Kalamazoo County, where a recent survey identified 791 people without permanent housing, including 176 children. Of these, 709 were in shelters, 254 were in families with children, and three were unaccompanied children. The project reflects a community effort to address housing insecurity with compassion and practical support, resonating with the biblical call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in Matthew 25:35.

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