Welcome


Voices for Action is a statewide effort to reduce poverty 50% in Michigan by 2020.

Led by the Michigan Department of Human Services, the initiative has created a network of organizations including human service organizations, government agencies, local faith-based and community organizations, non-profits, and businesses.


This space is for you to share your Voices for Action stories and current information. There are three ways to share.

- Submit a post via email to: voices4action6@haltpoverty.org and we'll post it for you, be sure to include contact info

- Submit a post through blogger: Google account required; request author invite by sending an email with
name & organization information to: voices4action6@haltpoverty.org

- Comment on published posts, no login required

You can use tags to highlight themes, such as 'asset building', 'workforce development', 'food assistance', etc.



Here are current poverty statistics for Region 6:

2009 Poverty and Median Income Estimates - Counties
Name Poverty Estimate All Ages Poverty Percent All Ages Poverty Estimate Under Age 18 Poverty Percent Under Age 18 Median Household Income
Allegan 12,850 11.5 4,601 16.2 50,487
Barry 6,038 10.4 2,111 15.2 53,566
Berrien 27,259 17.4 9,481 25.4 39,856
Branch 7,430 17.9 2,780 26.8 40,798
Calhoun 22,951 17.4 8,193 26.1 39,130
Cass 7,837 15.9 2,334 21.5 45,799
Kalamazoo 46,977 19.6 11,748 21.8 42,336
St. Joseph 10,265 16.9 3,710 23.9 43,402
Van Buren 12,755 16.6 4,409 22.8 41,731






Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area
Estimates Branch

Internet Release date: December 2010




View Michigan Counties - Region 6 Poverty in a larger map

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Open Doors To Host 2nd Annual Bountiful Breakfast

Kalamazoo, MI September 8, 2011 - Open Doors will host its 2nd Annual Bountiful Breakfast on Saturday, October 1st.

The event, to be held in South Westnedge Park from 9am-noon, will feature a breakfast of local cuisine and tour of Open Doors’ residences. Restaurants providing the breakfast include: Bagel Beanery, Biggby’s, Chocolatea, Cosmo’s Cucina, Full City Cafe, Millennium Restaurant Group, Mr. Thom Cooks, Oakwood Bistro, The Ample Pantry and Victorian Bakery. Additionally, D&W Marketplace, Meijer and Gordon Water are also donating items.

“The Bountiful Breakfast was such a huge success last year, we decided to make it an annual event,” states Rick Stravers, Executive Director of Open Doors. “The food is delicious and people are able to tour our residences and learn more about what we do in the community.”

Open Doors has been partnering with homeless women and men and low-wage workers since 1970 to empower them to support themselves and secure housing. At the Open Door and the Next Door, homeless women and men seek and find employment, save for future housing and address personal obstacles to stability. The Residence Community for Working People provides low-wage workers with housing at affordable rates and personal support for maintaining health and stability.

The tour will include four Open Doors’ residences around South Westnedge Park, formerly known as Pioneer Park, located at the intersection of South Westnedge Avenue and Park Place. Also on the tour this year is Open Doors’ new office at 810 S. Westnedge Avenue.

“The business and restaurant community has been especially supportive of Open Doors and the Bountiful Breakfast. We are grateful for their commitment to helping men and women secure the housing they need,” states Stravers.

Sponsoring businesses include Approved Fire Protection Co., Boot Haan Insurance, Clifford Mulder of Raymond James, Gergely Law Offices, P.C., Parrish Consulting, Rathco Safety & Supply Co. Redmond, Streed and Yokom, Rose Pest Solutions, Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co., and Yeo & Yeo. P.C.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for children under 10 and are available online at www.OpenDoorsKalamazoo.org or by calling the Open Doors offices at 343-6064. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the event.

For further information, please contact Sarah Bricknell, Development Director, at 269.343.6064 or at sbricknell@opendoorskalamazoo.org.

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