Shelter Will House Up To 80 Families With Private Rooms, Trauma-Informed Approach

A new homeless shelter for families with children is set to open its doors in Kalamazoo on April 30, offering a different approach to addressing family homelessness in Southwest Michigan.

The Landing Place will convert a former Country Inn and Suites hotel at 1912 E. Kilgore Street into a facility with more than 70 shelter rooms for families. Each family will have its own private space rather than sharing large common sleeping areas.

This project was actually something that Kalamazoo County government said this is needed here in Kalamazoo, said Andrea Tramel, executive director of The Landing Place, Family Promise of Southwest Michigan. So they put together an RFP, a proposal, and Family Promise National won the proposal.

The facility will open to families in early May, with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for April 30. Before families move in, outreach workers will begin contacting eligible families on a coordinated entry list to schedule intake appointments.

Millions of Dollars Invested After Multiple Delays

Kalamazoo County invested $5.65 million to purchase the former hotel and spent millions more converting it into a shelter. A $1.38 million construction contract was approved in October 2025.

Funding for the project includes:

• $4.15 million from Kalamazoo County
• $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the city of Kalamazoo
• $200,000 from Irving S. Gilmore Foundation
• $100,000 from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation
• $700,000 from an anonymous donor for construction gap needs
• $11 million for operations and wraparound services

The county awarded $10.8 million to Family Promise, a national nonprofit, to operate the 24/7 family shelter over the next three years.

The project has faced significant challenges and delays. It was originally slated to open in December 2025, but the opening date has been pushed back twice. The city of Portage pulled its pledge of $500,000 toward the effort because of another nearby hotel development. The project cost increased when mold was found in the building and required removal.

It has taken hard work to get the project to the finish line, said Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema. That is why you do not see projects quite like this happening elsewhere.

Unique Features Focus on Trauma-Informed Care

County officials have pointed to several unique features of the development:

• 24/7 on-site support staff to assist residents
• A family-friendly, trauma-informed approach to shelter services
• Child-friendly common areas
• Access to other services like health care coordination and case managers

Each room will include a microwave and mini fridge, allowing families flexibility while staying on-site. Meals, including breakfast, dinner and snacks, will be provided daily. Beyond housing, the focus is on helping families transition into permanent stability as quickly as possible.

Our goal for every family the minute they enter is immediately to get stable and safe housing for them, Tramel said. Every family will be paired with a caseworker and receive individualized support, which can include financial coaching, employment resources and housing planning.

One of the biggest distinctions from other shelters in the region is the emphasis on keeping families together.

What makes us unique at Family Promise is everything we do is based on trauma-informed information and data, Tramel said. And then also we keep the family together. That whole family approach is key.

Homelessness Remains Critical Issue in Kalamazoo County

In the 2025 point-in-time count, 791 people were identified as homeless in Kalamazoo County, the largest number since 2011. County officials discussed the need and decided to focus on families with children as one of the groups most in need of help.

The main overnight shelter, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, made changes in 2025 to its intake policies, limiting access to emergency beds. Continuum of Care Director Patrese Griffin said sustainable solutions are needed to help people struggling to find permanent housing. Issues related to housing remain near the top of the priority list for the governments of Kalamazoo County and the city of Kalamazoo.

We chose the name The Landing Place because that is what we want this shelter to be a safe, stabilizing space for families during one of the most difficult times in their lives, said Kalamazoo County Administrator/Controller Kevin Catlin in a statement.

Families currently experiencing homelessness can contact Housing Resources Inc at 269-382-0287 to explore available housing resources, including Coordinated Entry for housing.