SAGINAW, MI — A major boost to youth housing and homelessness prevention efforts is coming to mid-Michigan, following the announcement of more than $2 million in new federal funding for the Saginaw County Youth Protection Council.
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) said the two grants — totaling $2,018,790 and awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — will strengthen the region’s support system for homeless and runaway youth. The Youth Protection Council serves as Saginaw County’s lead shelter provider for vulnerable young people.
The funding will expand the agency’s housing capacity, improve case management services, and increase its ability to intervene before homelessness occurs. It will also establish a new street outreach program aimed at connecting at-risk teens and young adults with immediate support.
“Every child in our community deserves to grow up with a roof over their head and an opportunity for a great future,” McDonald Rivet said. “The Saginaw County Youth Protection Council is an important resource for kids and young adults in mid-Michigan. They give them a safe place to live, learn, and make real progress in their lives. This grant funding can help bring an end to homelessness in mid-Michigan and set young people, and all of us, up for a bright future.”
The Youth Protection Council serves single youth, young adults, young families, and pregnant or parenting teens across Saginaw and neighboring counties. The new grants underscore the organization’s central role in addressing housing instability, especially for young people navigating crises without family support.
“We’re excited that the Youth Protection Council has been awarded two major federal grants to further our mission of ending homelessness and housing insecurity,” said Jasmine Calhoun, the organization’s president and CEO. “These awards represent more than numbers on a page. They represent real opportunity, real impact, and real hope for thousands of young people and their children in mid-Michigan.”
Calhoun also expressed gratitude for the congresswoman’s support, noting that federal advocacy helped protect critical local resources. “We are honored by the trust placed in us and remain dedicated to building a future where every young person has a safe, stable place to call home,” she said.
The funding arrives at a time when youth homelessness remains a pressing issue statewide. Local leaders say the investment will help fill service gaps, strengthen early-intervention efforts and provide more young people with the stability they need to pursue education, employment and long-term independence.
