Hundreds of homeless kids in Kalamazoo County will get housing and help for their families over the next six years!  About 1200 kids!  Well done, everybody!  ISAAC played a key role.  Thank you for “putting feet to your faith.”

The detailed results of the election are stunning.  More voters said YES than No in every precinct in both Kalamazoo and Portage, in half of Oshtemo, a third of Texas and two fifths of Cooper Township, and there are very significant numbers of yes votes throughout the rest of the county:

http://www.electionmagic.com/results/mi/K39results/K3900104005.htm

The Washington Post reported in September on new federal data that the number of homeless students in US Public schools has doubled since before the recession.  This is a nationwide problem, but we already have a local solution that could be a model for other communities struggling with the same concerns!  Our model is a partnership between the public schools countywide (referral sources for the children), the county’s public housing commission (administrator of the funds), the local housing nonprofits and private landlords (providers of housing and support services), the families (who will contribute to the cost of the housing and work toward housing security and independence), the county commissioners (who put the modest millage on the ballot), the faith-based and human service and other organizations who championed it, and the voters who gave such significant support.  Voteyesforkids.net has the details.

Special thanks to the ISAAC congregations which endorsed the millage–First Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church, and Westwood United Methodist Church–and to the ISAAC Housing Task Force, whose members worked toward this day since housing was chosen as one of the first three ISAAC issues in 2003!   A huge thank you to all of you who donated, volunteered, advocated and spread the word!  We did it!  Hallelujah!