The Salvation Army Booth Family Services

Booth Family Services is an expression of one of The Salvation Army’s most traditional ministries, demonstrating the love of God by serving people in need without discrimination. Through its eight program units, BFS offers comprehensive services to meet basic human needs. It provides emergency and transitional housing services, prenatal and family health care services, individual and family counseling, and numerous education and other supportive services.

The Salvation Army is an international non-profit Christian charitable organization founded in 1865, serving the greater Grand Rapids and Kent County areas since 1883. In addition to Booth Family Services, The Salvation Army provides outreach and support through two local Corps Community Centers, a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program called Turning Point, a long term residential program known as the Adult Rehabilitation Center, Little Pine Island Camp and its Emergency Disaster Services unit.

Booth Clinic, in partnership with Cherry Street Health Services, provides prenatal and family practice care to adolescents, young adults and families. A staff nurse, social workers and a registered dietician promote health maintenance and preventative care through education and counseling.

Community Case Coordination Team is a consortium of over 50 local social services agencies which meets twice each month to develop and coordinate individual case plans for clients who are involved with multiple service systems.

Emergency Assistance Services provides basic crisis assistance for individuals and families in need of food, clothing, and help with rent and utilities. The food pantry is part of the ACCESS network and serves county residents up to three times per year.

Family Lodge is located at 143 Lakeside Drive. It provides emergency shelter for homeless women and children for up to 30 days. Residents of the Lodge are encouraged and assisted by staff to engage needed community resources during their stay so that they are able to move into transitional or permanent housing as soon as possible.

Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) is the community entry point to assist persons who are in a crisis of homelessness. HAP offers an assessment and referral service which matches homeless individuals and families with available emergency housing.

Kindred Transitional Housing is available to homeless women and their children who need supportive housing services in order to become self-sufficient. Women, 18 years and older, are assisted with personal continuing education, employment goals and parenting goals.

Pregnant & Parenting Teen Program provides intensive outreach and case management services to female teens in order to facilitate family stability and high school completion.

Teen Living Center is a new residential program for pregnant and parenting teens with their young children who are in the crisis of homelessness. Young women, ages 14-19, can live in the Center for up to two years while they pursue their educational goals and develop improved living and parenting skills.

These programs receive financial support from individual and corporate donors, the Heart of West Michigan United Way, the Family Independence Agency and a variety of other governmental units.