6/14/22 - Dagage Ministries Of Grand Rapids Expands To Help Even More People

A downtown Grand Rapids homeless shelter cuts the ribbon on the first phase of an expansion project.

(GRAND RAPIDS, MI) - Degage Ministries formally opened the first completed section of its renovated campus at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday.

The event celebrated the organization's $7.5 million dollar effort to expand its property at the Northwest corner of Sheldon Boulevard and Cherry Street in downtown Grand Rapids.

As a result of the renovations, Degage will increase its capabilities to serve more meals, provide more wellness activities, expand its workforce development program, and add more beds to its women's overnight shelter program.

The first completed section is the new community center and dining room area- the most used spaces among Degage's regular patrons.

The overall project entails removing and renovating structures on the property and building new structures that expand Degage's footprint along Cherry Street. 

The first phase includes:

-Relocating the organization's main entrance away from the congested Cherry/Division corridor to the more pedestrian-friendly Cherry/Sheldon intersection, and

-An expanded dining room to serve 90,000 meals a year (50% increase in capacity, from 120 to 180 seats)

Additional renovated sections are scheduled to be completed throughout the remainder of 2022.