Making Room at the Table: Latoya’s Story
In the two years that Latoya has lived at ICCF’s apartments at 415 MLK Street, she’s become an integral part of its community. If a neighbor needs encouragement, Latoya delivers a home-cooked meal to their door. When ICCF asks for volunteers, she’s the first in line. If someone has a question about transportation, community programs, or ICCF’s resources, Latoya makes the connection. There’s hardly a resident or staff member in the building whom she doesn’t know. “Give me the date and time, and I’m on my way to help,” Latoya likes to say. As someone who has experienced what it’s like to be without a home, she’s now an expert at what it means to create one.
Growing up with ten siblings, Latoya learned early what it meant to care for others. Today she has three children of her own, the youngest still a teenager. As an adult, she experienced homelessness off and on for four years. Wherever she stayed, Latoya would seek out available jobs to earn money and save for a better life. Then she heard about ICCF Community Homes.
“When I was in the shelter, I had an advocate who kept pushing and pushing to get my Section 8 housing voucher. Finally, in May, I got a letter from ICCF to start the intake process. On October 4, I got the keys to my apartment,” she recalled. A family member helped her pay the security deposit, and suddenly Latoya had a place of her own to call home. “I thought, ‘Man, I’m home. I don’t have to worry about anything anymore,’” she said, remembering how it felt to walk into the bare apartment. “I don’t have to find out what to eat or where to cook. I can take a bath every day. I don’t have to walk on my tiptoes. It’s been amazing ever since.”
Starting her new life with very little, Latoya slept on the floor until she was able to acquire furniture. Nowadays she’s usually spending time in the kitchen, where she loves to cook up southern-style recipes learned from her mom and grandmothers, or sitting on her couch by the window. “I love my home,” says Latoya. “It’s a place where I don’t have to worry about anything; a safe place.” On the back of her front door are stickers that read “Patient,” “Gentle,” “Humble,” and “Loving”—the last thing she sees before leaving home.
Latoya is one of about a hundred residents who reside at 415 MLK. In addition to income-qualified apartments, the building contains ICCF’s office and community space, Madison: South Hill Church, and the YMCA Jacquline Baber-Bey Early Childhood Center. Latoya’s second- floor apartment looks out over the building’s main entrance. Just across the street is the Women’s Resource Center, where Latoya walks twice a week for her Wayfinder program, a selective education program from Calvin University.
Wayfinder aims to remove barriers to education by providing a tuition-free jumpstart to higher education with childcare included, technology provided, dinner on the night of class provided by a local caterer, and public transportation assistance to class. Courses focus on forefronting the humanities as an entry point to develop critical thinking skills, reflective and creative skills, and to allow students to thrive in a supportive educational environment. When the program concludes, Latoya wants to use her eight transferable credits to continue her education and pursue a new career, saying, “I decided to be a social worker to help people out, just like people helped me out.”
Abbie Lipsker, Director of Continuing Studies at Calvin University, said, “Latoya came highly recommended from ICCF as a member of the community with immense leadership potential, trustworthiness, and resilience. Her instructors say that Latoya is quick to ask for help when she needs it and she’s quick to offer help to classmates. She has deep insights on the readings and she’s often complimenting her fellow classmate’s insights and strengths.” ICCF neighbors were among those selected for an initial planning focus group organized by Calvin, from which the need and interest for the Wayfinder program was solidified.
Latoya previously worked as a dental assistant before taking a part-time retail position close to home. When she’s not working or doing homework, she’s often volunteering her time as one of ICCF’s Resident Ambassadors. In this role, Latoya helps support the work of 415 MLK’s onsite Community Connector staff person through event promotion and neighbor outreach. ICCF organizes various neighbor events in all its buildings, including meals, Bible studies, and holiday events. Latoya noticed that some people were walking past event flyers in the hallway, so she started hanging them in the elevator so they wouldn’t be missed. She helps coordinate one of the weekly Bible studies, preparing materials and coordinating food.
Latoya’s generosity stretches beyond the hallways of 415 MLK, too. “During Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s I cook a big dinner,” she explained.
“When I was homeless, we only ate what the shelter could prepare for us. Now I take my leftovers, still warm, and pass out dinners to people on the street.” Whether through homemade food, a warm smile, or her own story of grit and tenacity, Latoya is helping create an environment of “home” for everyone she meets.
ICCF Community Homes
ICCF Community Homes is the oldest non-profit affordable housing provider in the state of Michigan. Active in the Grand Rapids area since 1974, ICCF serves over 2,000 households a year through its programs and services. Program offerings include Family Haven emergency shelter, over 700 units of affordable rental housing, newly constructed homes for purchase, homeownership education and financial counseling.
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