Community Resources
West Michigan Friendship Center
Address: 3665 29th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: 616-828-5310
Whether you are a refugee, immigrant, or resident from another country, welcomes you to West Michigan! The Drop-in center provides free coffee, meals, resources, computer use, English and more. Arabic is spoken.
Bethany Christian Services
Address: 1050 36th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Phone: 616.224.7540
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“In partnership with local churches and community agencies, Bethany Christian Services welcomes refugee and immigrant families and helps them adjust to a new life in the United States.”
Public Benefits
MDHHS – Kent County (Michigan Department Health and Human Services)
Phone: 616-248-1000
Address: 121 Franklin St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
This department administers assistance programs like Medicaid, Food and Cash Assistance, etc.
General Assistance & Case Management
The following are the phone numbers and links to local refugee support organizations:
Bethany Christian Services Refugee & Immigrant Services
Phone: 616.224.7540 Address: 1050 36th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
“In partnership with local churches and community agencies, Bethany Christian Services welcomes refugee and immigrant families and helps them adjust to a new life in the United States.”
Samaritas New American Services
Phone: 616.356.1934 Address: 207 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
“As the largest refugee resettlement agency in the state of Michigan and the fourth largest in the nation, Samaritas has resettled thousands of people from dozens of countries all across the world.”
https://www.samaritas.org/New-Americans
Senior Neighbors
Phone: 616.459.6019 Address: 678 Front Ave NW, Suite 205, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
“Every year we serve over 4,000 older adults, helping them stay independent through a wide range of essential services and our five Senior Neighbors centers. We promote the well-being of older adults with services that promote self-sufficiency, especially to those with physical, social or economic needs living in Kent County.”
Treetops Collective
Phone: 616.389.0117 Address: 906 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
We are “connecting refugee women to jobs in the textile industry through strategic partnerships and creative social enterprise.”
Additional Resources
English Classes:
Bethany Refugee Adult and Family Programs
https://www.bethany.org/other-services/refugee-and-immigrant-services
GRCC (Grand Rapids Community College)
https://www.grcc.edu/english/englishasasecondlanguage/eslcourses
Literacy Center of West Michigan
https://literacycenterwm.org/
Wyoming Community Education
http://wyomingps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Community-Education-Brochure.pdf
Housing:
Housing Crisis – call 2-1-1 or call 1.800.887.1107
Salvation Army: Housing Assistance Program
Phone: 616.454.5840
Address: 1215 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
https://sasocialservices.org/wmnisocialservices/housing-services
Family Promise of Grand Rapids
Phone: 616.475.5220
Address: 516 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
“Ending homelessness…one family at a time. We give parents the hope and encouragement they need to create a better future for their kids and end the cycle of homelessness.”
https://www.familypromisegr.org/
ID and Driver’s License:
Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, 888.767.6424 and 517.322.1166
Any office can assist with Michigan ID’s or driver’s licenses. Two common locations are:
Roger’s Plaza, 1506 Roger’s Plaza SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
Shops at CenterPoint, 3601 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Immunizations and (Initial) Health Screening:
Kent County Health Department
Phone: 616.632.7100 and 1.888.515.1300
Address: 700 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
https://www.accesskent.com/Health/
School Enrollment and Summer Program
Refugee Education Center
Phone: 616.247.9611
Address: 2130 Enterprise St SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
(eligible up to three years after arrival)
https://refugeeeducationcenter.org/
Social Security: Applying for Social Security Number or Disability Income
Social Security Administration
Phone: 877.319.5710
Address: 3045 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Travel Loans:
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Phone: 212.870.3361
Information about refugee travel loans if resettled through Bethany Christian Services
What is a Refugee?
Curious about what qualifies a person as a refugee? Go to this United Nations link to you can learn more about the population Thrive serves.
Hear the Refugee Stories
Go to this National Public Radio link to listen to and read stories about refugees and by refugees.
Green Cards and Citizenship
For all the information you need to know about obtaining a green card and becoming a US citizen go to these links for information and downloadable forms.
Green Cards: https://www.uscis.gov/greencard
Citizenship: https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship
Here are phone numbers and links to agencies in the Grand Rapids area that help with these processes:
City Life Church Immigration Connection
Phone: 616.855.0563
Website: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/
Grand Rapids Community College Citizenship Classes
Phone: 616.234.3172 or 616.454.4874
Website: https://www.grcc.edu/adulteducation/eslcitizenship
Immigration Legal Services, Diocese of Grand Rapids
Phone: 616.551-4746
Website: http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/ministries/Outreach/Pages/Immigration-Legal-Services
Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)
Phone: 616.301.7461
Website: https://jfonmi.org/
Food
Food Emergencies – Call 2-1-1 or call 1.800.887.1107
Access of West Michigan
Phone: 616.774.2175
This agency organizes the Food Pantries in Western Michigan. Which one you’re eligible for depends on where you live.
Salvation Army: Food Pantry
Phone: 616.459.9468
1215 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
https://www.foodpantries.org/li/the-salvation-army-booth-family-services
Counseling & Healthcare Services
Network180
Phone: 616.336.3765
Address: 790 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
If help is needed immediately for a mental health crisis the Network 180 Access Center is open 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. (With or without insurance; mental health counseling, psychiatric services, substance use treatment, services related to developmental disabilities and autism.)
https://www.network180.org/en/
Cherry Street Health Services
Phone: 616.965.8308 and 616.965.8200
Address: 100 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Offers medical services, dental, vision, counseling, and a variety of other health care services.
Samaritas: Survivors of Torture
Phone: 616.356.1934
Address: 207 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Provides counseling, psychotherapy services and case management support to refugees, asylees, or others eligible under the prescribed federal guidelines.
https://www.samaritas.org/New-Americans/Resettlement
Bethany’s Center for Healing Torture Trauma
Phone: 800.238.4269
Address: 901 Eastern Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Provides caring and supportive trauma treatment plans for refugees and immigrants who are victims of torture.
Hope Network: Healthcare and Life Services
Phone: 616.301.8000
Address: 3075 Orchard Vista Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
“We are advocates for people who suffer from physical, mental and social barriers that impact their daily life.”
Leonard Street Counseling Center (Cherry Health)
Phone: 616.954.1991
Address: 1400 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mental health counseling, substance use treatment, psychiatric services, health promotion.
https://www.cherryhealth.org/2016/07/leonard-street-counseling-center/
Exalta Health
Phone: 616.475.8446
Address: 15 Andre St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
If NO insurance: free or low-cost medical, dental, vision, behavioral, counseling, diabetes services.
Oasis of Hope Center
Phone: 616.451.8868
Address: 522 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
If NO insurance: free or low-cost medical services, counseling, diabetes and life skill education.
Arbor Circle
Phone: 616.456.6571
Address: 1115 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
With or without insurance: mental health counseling, substance use treatment, children, youth and family.
Be A Rose, Inc.
Phone: 616.990.3353
Address: Classes held at 15 Andre St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Women’s Health: “Our mission is to provide health and wellness education to underserved women and school-age girls and to distribute feminine hygiene products to these populations at zero cost.”