Community Action House

Community Action House was started in 1969 to meet the needs of our community’s poor. Lupita Reyes, an early advocate for the poor and migrant workers in our community, offered presentations in local churches about the need to have a community safety net. David Myers, a Hope College Professor invited Reyes to make a presentation to representatives from local churches and the American Association of University Women. The meeting resulted in the formation of Community Action House. Three years later CAH started its first food pantry and free clothing distribution. Migrant Workers and Emergency Services: 1969-1986 From the beginning, families from all ethnic backgrounds came requesting help. Through their stories, CAH learned that providing food and clothing was just part of the solution. Finding adequate housing was a major issue and CAH began helping families secure safe and affordable housing. After learning that some of the rental properties in the community were in poor condition and did not meet local housing code requirements, CAH took the lead role for the advocacy and the creation of the rental inspection program in the City of Holland. Today all rental property in the city is inspected ensuring a safe physical living environment for families and sound rental housing in our community. Local Residents and Case Management: 1987-1991 In the mid-1980’s, Community Action House expanded its programming to become one of the first local agencies to offercase managementservices.  In short, the agency wasn’t satisfied with just providing for immediate needs—CAH wanted to help its neighbors understand the root causes of poverty and equip them with the needed skills to make long-term change on the road to prosperity. Programming expanded to includecase management,emergency services, life skills training, and referral to stable housing. Collaboration and The Community Kitchen: 1992-1994 Being a learning-driven organization, CAH collaborated with other agencies to explore effective ways to serve families in need. A discussion with Western Theological Seminary(WTS) in 1992 led to the establishment of a community kitchen. Today the “Community Kitchen” partnership is nationally recognized as an example of how faith-based and community-based organizations can successfully work together. The Community Kitchen, located at WTS and staffed by CAH, provides free hot meals seven days a week, and serves to connect individuals of diverse backgrounds and situations, facilitating a resilient community meal where all are welcome. Collaboration and the Community Housing Partnership: 1994-1996 Partnering with Good Samaritan Ministriesin 1995, the two agencies started the Community Housing Partnership. The program offers families transitional housing while they participate in an intensive case management program. Good Samaritan Ministries trains church teams to support and mentor CHP families while CAH case managers coordinate services and assist CHP families to set self-sufficiency goals. In 2005 the CHP program received national recognition for being an effective community collaboration from the Faith and Service Technical Educational Network (FASTEN). The MRC, the Boutique, and Educational Services: 1997-2006 In 1997 Community Action House advanced the innovative idea of housing multiple non-profits under one roof by renovating a 30,000sf former egg hatchery on Holland’s north side into the Macatawa Resource Center(MRC). Today CAH and thirteen agencies provide an array of services, including advocacy for children and adults with developmental disabilities, health information services, 12 step programs, senior commodities distribution, community gardening, and neighborhood watch programs. The MRC was the first of our area’s three multi-agency centers. In the same year the MRC opened, CAH launched its first resale shop, the Boutique. The 900 sq. ft. store hit sales of $90,000 six years later. In addition, CAH extended its mission to include assistin