Emergency Financial Assistance – Christian Neighbors

Serving residents of Plainwell, Otsego and Martin School Districts. We assist clients financially with critical temporary needs in the areas of:

Rental assistance (first month’s rent, security deposit, back rent, eviction)
Utility shut-offs or payments (preventing loss of utilities or loss of winter protection plan, fuel oil or propane)
Landlord/Utility Vendor Mediation
Referral service to other human services agencies

How do I get help?

You can call the office anytime Monday-Thursday or come in during the following drop-in hours:

Tuesday 10:00am-12:00pm
Thursday 2:00pm-5:00pm

Case Managers are with clients during drop-in hours and may not be available by phone during these times.

Bring the following items during the hours listed above, arrive at least 1/2 hour before closing:

Photo id showing your current address
Proof of income for each person in the home who has income (pay stubs, social security award letters, unemployment benefits, child support. etc)
Birth dates for each person in the home

Depending on what you need help with, bring your shut off notice or utility bill, DHHS decision notice, letter from your landlord, eviction notice, etc.

State Emergency Relief Forms (SER)

DHHS requires the use of the MI Bridges website for requesting state emergency relief (SER). Christian Neighbors is a Community Navigation partner with DHHS, and we can help you complete the SER application on Mondays from 10:00am-12:00pm or by appointment.

If you have any emergency financial assistance questions or need to schedule an SER appointment, email Shannon here or call 269-685-4166 ext. 106.

Stories of Hope

When Audrey learned she would need surgery, her first thought wasn’t about herself — it was about her two children. As a single mom working full time, every paycheck mattered. But during her recovery, she was unable to work, and her modest savings quickly dwindled. To make matters worse, her ex-husband wasn’t making child support payments. The stress was overwhelming. Audrey was able to make partial payments on her rent from her short-term disability but still fell behind. She received a letter threatening with an eviction if she didn’t get caught up quickly and she knew she needed help. That help came when she reached out to Christian Neighbors. Within days, our case manager was able to contact her landlord to intervene, provide emergency rental assistance, and direct her to another partner agency for a bit off additional help. This gave Audrey the stability she needed to focus on her recovery and her family’s well-being.