In Need

Click the links to learn about ways Guiding Light Mission can help you in these situations.

Call 616.451.0236 with any questions you may have.

Need a Meal?

72,415 free meals were served at Guiding Light Mission in 2011. That's 1,393 meals per week to men, women, and children in need.

Dinner is served every day of the year and is preceded by Chapel service. Dinner chapel begins promptly at 6pm, with dinner being served at 6:30pm.

Need a place to sleep?

Emergency Shelter

The Emergency Shelter is a temporary place for men who are looking for a clean, safe place to spend the night.

It is designed to address the immediate transitional needs of men trying to find their way through a lost job, a lost home, a lost loved one, the loss of relationships, or loss of direction. These men need a hand up - encouragement to seek that next level of progress - not just another hand out.

Each guest is provided dinner, a shower, clean pajamas, a bed with clean sheets, and breakfast the next morning.

Many of these men suffer from multiple issues that have led to the downward spiral of living in the streets. Some choose to move to the next level in our residential programming. By making that commitment, they gain access to case management services, educational classes, relapse prevention, career counseling, and employment search services.

Need help with addiction?

Programing exposes clients to God's healing love in a caring environment that provides education, vocational training, confrontation, guidance, and support. In this environment, each man is offered the tools he needs to develop a sense of self-worth and become transformed and motivated by a new vision of how his life could be. He develops concern for others and an appreciation for integrity, community, responsibility, sympathy, and fun. The program is very intensive. Men are required to fully participate in individual therapy, addictions counseling, and group counseling, which are Christian based and designed to help the client learn how to recover from his addiction and manage conflict in a healthy way. In addition to healing the man himself, the program also seeks to equip him with the tools to be successful in his recovery, including career development and help with housing. The goal of Guiding Light Mission is to restore each man to a right relationship with himself, his family, and with Jesus Christ, so that he can become a productive member of society once again.

Our New Life In Christ Program is completely free. Our donors provide the support needed so the men can focus on getting back on their feet.

If you would like more information on this program, contact us here..

or, contact Program Director, Brian Plumhoff at 616.451.0236 ext 25 or via e-mail at newlifeinchrist@lifeonthestreet.org.

Other Resources

Grand Rapids has a plethora of resources:

Family Resource Guide

Homeless Referral Resources (coordinated by the homeless)

Housing Options
There are three types of affordable housing:

• Section 8 Housing - this includes rentals that accept Section 8 vouchers.
• Great Values - this allows for visitors to search for rentals that fall below market value.
• Special Rates and Deals - this includes rentals that are currently offering promotions, deals and special pricing.