Built to Last: A Faithful Partnership in Muskegon

Some chapters begin not with fanfare, but with trust—when one community turns to another and says, “Will you help carry this forward?”

That’s what’s happening in Muskegon.

This summer, ICCF Community Homes stepped into a new chapter—not to launch something brand new, but to lovingly continue a story of faith, neighborhood care, and housing justice that’s been unfolding in Muskegon for decades.

We’ve been invited by our friends at Community enCompass, an outreach started by Bethany Church in 1995, to carry forward work in the Nelson and McLaughlin neighborhoods of Muskegon—two places rich with history, resilience, and community strength. Through this partnership, ICCF will steward 25 homes that have provided stability, affordability, and dignity to families in Muskegon’s core city for years.

“This isn’t about taking over—it’s about joining in,” says Ryan VerWys, ICCF’s CEO. “We’re building on a legacy of love and presence, shaped by people who have long been doing the work of neighborly care and housing justice.”

What makes this partnership so meaningful is how deeply our roots align. Both ICCF and Community enCompass were born from churches that believed faith should be lived out, love of neighbor meant action, and healthy neighborhoods don’t just happen—they’re nurtured through relationships, intentional presence, and long-term commitment.

We carry a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe, stable place to live. That homes are more than buildings—they are the foundation for human flourishing.

A Vision That Lives On

In a housing market that’s pricing many out, especially those earning under $30,000 a year, as is the case for nearly 60% of renters in Muskegon (according to a 2023 Housing Needs Assessment), preserving affordable homes is one of the most loving, just, and urgent things we can do.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, and a newly established capital reserve fund, these 25 homes will remain permanently affordable and well-maintained. ICCF will also be working toward adding even more affordable housing in Muskegon in the years to come.

But this is about more than homes.

“This transition is about preserving the strength and stability of our neighborhoods,” says Kimberly Leavell, Executive Director of Community enCompass. “ICCF shares our deep commitment to community, and we know they’ll carry this work forward with the same care and integrity.”

This Is the Kind of Growth We Believe In

It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s faithful.

It’s growth that happens because people trust each other. Because shared values point toward shared action. Because the kind of flourishing we want to see in the world only happens when we show up for one another.