Our Initiatives

Affordable Housing

Since 2006, Kalamazoo Collective Housing has been providing affordable rental housing to people who earn low incomes. We currently can accommodate 15 members. We're expanding our properties and will soon offer more housing for individuals and families.

Scholarship Fund

KCH offers scholarships to residents who want to attend conferences and trainings related to our mission. We grant several scholarships each year for this purpose.

Community Programs

We've held a variety of educational and/or entertaining community events. Below are some past and current examples:

    • Leadership training 
    • Community potlucks
    • Lost Film Fest
    • Working for Social Justice as an Ally Retreat
    • Weekly Spanish Gatherings
    • Women's Gatherings
    • Sewing Workshops
    • Home maintenance training
    • Community-Based Mental Health Retreat
    • Anti-Racism Retreat
    • Reuse-a-Ball Benefit Concert
    • Annual Solstice Celebrations
    • Uprise Counter-Recruitment Tour
    • Voter Education Dance Parties
    • 2007 Social Justice Training Series in Kalamazoo
    • Gardening workshops

      Sustainability Priorities

      We do many things to act on our values of creating a more ecologically sustainable society in which future generations can enjoy access to necessary resources. Many of these simple practices also save us money. Here's a brief list of what's happening in our houses to use our resources wisely:

      • We work to revitalize neighborhoods and improve existing structures rather than build new homes.
      • Food is a major aspect of our impact on our environment and society. Through our collective purchasing power, we support as many organic, bulk, and local food producers as possible. This encourages healthy agricultural practices, reduces waste, and supports our local economy.
      • We often compost food waste.
      • We strive to reuse as much as possible in order to reduce our solid waste headed to landfills. This includes packaging, office materials, etc.
      • We conserve electricity (currently supplied by fossil fuels) by using flourescent lights.
      • We recycle waste whenever possible.
      • Many of our members use mass transit and bicycles rather than individual cars.
      • We choose high-efficiency appliances.
      • When making purchasing decisions, we work to support local and environmentally responsible business, which is important in growing the local economy.
      • We support urban gardening projects.

      Grassroots Goods Organic Apparel

      We operate an organic apparel company that raises funds for our operations and expansion. Our apparel is sold in stores throughout the region. Because we care about sustainability, all of our shirts are made in the USA and are 100% organic cotton. Learn more about the company at www.grassrootsgoods.org.