Families in crisis rarely face just one challenge.
In Ingham County, families experiencing housing instability are often simultaneously navigating employment disruptions, behavioral health needs, childcare barriers, and complex social service systems. When those systems operate independently, families are left to carry the burden—repeating their stories, facing delays, and falling through gaps that were never designed for real life.
The 100 Families Initiative exists to change that.
Rather than asking families to navigate fragmented systems alone, the initiative coordinates agencies around shared goals and walks alongside families as they move from crisis to stability.
Since launch, the initiative has served 124 families and individuals facing complex, overlapping challenges. Through intentional collaboration and sustained advocacy, 32 participants have moved from crisis to stability—meaning one in four families served has achieved measurable, lasting progress.
Employment is a critical indicator of long-term stability. Among families who are working, 95% have retained their jobs. This success reflects coordinated support that addresses the barriers that most often derail progress—unstable housing, transportation gaps, lack of childcare, and unmet mental health needs.
Housing remains one of the most difficult hurdles in Ingham County. At intake, only 16 participants were stably housed. By mid-January, 47 individuals and families were living in stable housing—a 194% increase achieved despite a countywide housing shortage.
“When agencies are aligned around the same family, outcomes improve. Coordination reduces gaps, strengthens follow-through, and allows families to move forward more quickly.”
— Community Partner
At the core of this progress is collaboration. On average, four agencies actively work with each family—coordinating services, sharing information with consent, and reducing duplication. Instead of families being passed from one system to another, partners are working together in real time toward shared outcomes.
The results are clear. When systems align, families experience fewer barriers, faster progress, and more sustainable outcomes. The 100 Families Initiative provides a shared framework for cross-sector collaboration—creating clearer, more humane pathways to stability for families across Ingham County.
