5-Year Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Kalamazoo County

The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC) is currently engaged in the process of developing a Comprehensive Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Kalamazoo County in partnership with Michele S. Williams, LLC (MSWLLC).

MSWLLC will facilitate stakeholder engagement, conduct data analysis, and work alongside the CoC to draft a strategic plan that reflects evidence-based practices and is tailored to the needs of the local unhoused community.

  Building Our Strategic Plan Together

  We're building a Strategic Plan to End Homelessness for our community - and we want you to be part of the journey. This hub will keep you informed every step of the way, from listening sessions to data analysis to draft plan development. 

Check back here regularly for updates, opportunities to get involved, and ways to share your input. Together, we're creating a roadmap to end homelessness that reflects the voices and experiences of the entire Kalamazoo County community.

Our Approach

Current Phase: Community Engagement

Community at the Heart: Our Engagement Journey

This intensive site visit week represented the heart of our planning process – where data met lived experience, where systems met humanity, and where Kalamazoo County's path to ending homelessness was charted through authentic community collaboration.

OUR ENGAGEMENT APPROACH

Our concentrated one-week on-site visit was designed to maximize deep, meaningful connections with the Kalamazoo community while ensuring face-to-face interactions essential for authentic engagement, particularly with people experiencing homelessness. This intensive approach allowed for immediate relationship building and trust development, real-time synthesis of emerging themes, and adaptive facilitation that responded to community needs as they arose.  

Rather than scattered meetings over months, our team immersed ourselves in the community for five transformative days. We came not as outside experts, but as partners ready to listen, learn, and help translate the community's wisdom into actionable strategies. Every conversation mattered. Every story shaped the plan. Every voice contributed to the solution.  

WHO WE ENGAGED

People with Lived Experience took center stage. Through multiple listening sessions in shelters, day centers, and community spaces, we heard directly from those currently experiencing homelessness and those recently housed. Their expertise – gained through navigating systems and overcoming barriers – guided our strategic priorities. Each participant was compensated $75, recognizing their invaluable contributions. 

System Partners brought operational insight. Healthcare providers, law enforcement, judicial officers, educators, school systems, and employment services shared their perspectives on cross-sector collaboration. We explored discharge planning from hospitals and jails, school-based interventions, and workforce development opportunities that can prevent and end homelessness.  

Community Leaders provided strategic direction. From CoC Board members to County Commissioners, from service providers to city administrators, we engaged those responsible for resources and policy decisions. Individual interviews and focused roundtables uncovered opportunities for system alignment and resource maximization.  

The Broader Community had their voice heard. Two public forums – one at El Concilio, one in Portage, offered at different times – ensured every resident could contribute. These weren't just meetings; they were opportunities for Kalamazoo County to collectively envision a community where everyone has a home.  

HOW WE FACILITATED

Equity-Centered Design guided every session. As three African American women who understand systemic inequities firsthand, we created brave spaces where truth could be spoken and heard. Power dynamics were acknowledged. Historical trauma was respected. BIPOC voices were elevated, not just included. 

Trauma-Informed Practices ensured safety. We recognized that homelessness itself is traumatic, and asking people to share their experiences required careful facilitation. Support resources were available. Multiple engagement formats accommodated different comfort levels. Dignity and respect were non-negotiable.  

Data-Driven Discussions grounded us in reality. We brought baseline data to every conversation – not to lecture, but to validate experiences and identify gaps. The dashboard metrics framed our questions. Disparities were discussed transparently. Communities helped interpret what numbers alone could not reveal.  

Cultural Responsiveness shaped our approach. Translation services ensured language wasn't a barrier. Meeting locations were accessible via public transit. Sessions were scheduled around work, services, and life obligations. Food was provided, acknowledging that hungry people shouldn't be asked to plan on empty stomachs.  

THE TRANSFORMATION WE WITNESSED

During this week, something powerful happened. Individual stories became collective understanding. Isolated programs discovered alignment opportunities. Data points transformed into human faces. Skepticism shifted toward possibility.   By week's end, we didn't just gather input; we built the foundation for transformative change. The relationships formed, trust established, and insights gained during these five days will resonate throughout the five-year plan and will continue to guide implementation.  

Every voice mattered. Every experience counted. Every participant shaped the future.    

Public Input Survey

Your input is essential to creating a plan that reflects community priorities and addresses the real challenges people face. This survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Public Input Survey Closed: October 31, 2025

Data Culture Survey

Purpose: To gather direct input from people whose data is being collected.

Purpose: To assess the current data culture in Kalamazoo’s homelessness response system.  

 Data Surveys Closed: October 31, 2025

Meet the Team

Our consulting team is led by three African American women who bring not only professional expertise but also lived understanding of the systemic inequities that contribute to housing instability and homelessness in communities across the United States. As Black women in America, we have navigated systems that were not designed with our communities in mind, and we understand intimately how systemic oppression and intersecting forms of discrimination create barriers to housing, healthcare, employment, and other fundamental needs.

Michele Williams

Founder & CEO, MSWLLC

Michele Salters Williams, our Lead Consultant and Kalamazoo native, brings the perspective of a Black woman who has worked to create change within systems while advocating for those whose voices have been historically marginalized. Her deep roots in the community inform her approach to strategic planning, which is grounded in understanding how policy and practice must address root causes of inequality, not just symptoms.

Rori Knight Durham

Founder & CEO, RK Durham Consulting

Rori Knight Durham brings the wisdom of a Black woman who has held leadership positions within government systems while maintaining advocacy for housing justice. Her experience spans the full spectrum from direct service delivery to policy development, always with understanding that true systems change requires centering those most impacted by systemic failures.

Stacey Mathews

Founder & CEO, SAMatthews LLC

Stacey Matthews brings the intersecting lived experiences of being foreign-born, navigating migration, living with disabilities, and facing housing instability, including periods of doubling up. Her nearly two decades of experience as a Black woman working within data systems is informed by personal understanding of how systems fail vulnerable populations. Her expertise in HMIS and data analysis is grounded in commitment to ensuring that data serves communities rather than simply satisfying compliance requirements.

Our Commitment to Kalamazoo County

FAQ

What is a strategic plan and why do we need one?

A strategic plan is a roadmap that outlines specific goals, strategies, and actions to end homelessness in your community. It helps coordinate efforts across organizations, secure funding, and ensures we're using evidence-based approaches that work.

How long will this process take?

Development timelines vary by community based on local needs and circumstances. The Kalamazoo County CoC has engaged MSWLLC for three months to complete the process. However, timelines may adjust based on findings, stakeholder availability, and additional community input needs. Our team remains flexible to ensure we deliver an actionable, measurable plan without compromising quality or thoroughness.

Who gets to provide input?

Everyone! We're seeking input from people with living/lived experience of homelessness, service providers, community leaders, businesses, faith communities, law enforcement, and all residents who care about this issue.  

How will my input actually be used?

All community feedback is documented, analyzed for common themes, and directly incorporated into plan strategies and priorities.

Will this actually make a difference?

Strategic plans work best when they have strong community support, dedicated funding, and committed leadership. Similar plans in other communities have shown measurable reductions in homelessness when implemented effectively.

What happens after the plan is finished?

The real work begins with implementation. The plan will guide funding decisions, program development, and policy changes. Progress will be tracked and reported regularly to the community.