Mission, vision & history

Grace House is Itasca County's only homeless shelter. More than 200 individuals, families and children who are homeless or transient are served by Grace House each year. The shelter can house up to 10 individuals per day, 365 days per year, and guests can stay up to 30 days if needed to focus on developing job and independent-living skills.

How Grace House came to be

Prior to 2006, there was no homeless shelter in Itasca County, and many individuals and families experiencing homelessness were at extreme risk. Other organizations and agencies assisted with overnight motel stays and small cash assistance — but until Grace House was established, there were no consistent services for those in need of emergency shelter.

With outstanding support from the greater Grand Rapids community, Grace House opened the doors to its new, stand-alone shelter on December 26, 2012. The facility offers:

• Individual sleeping cubicles
• ADA-accessible restrooms, showers, and a wheelchair lift
• Indoor play space and a literacy corner for children
• Work stations where guests can access employment and housing information
• An on-site mini resource center for employment and housing opportunities

Guests meet with Grace House's trained staff and other professionals on a daily basis. Together they provide referrals to appropriate resources — including mental health and chemical dependency services — assistance filling out forms, and motivation to realize the goals in each guest's individualized plan.

The homeless population in Itasca County has increased by 22% in the past three years — and Grace House is growing to meet it. Follow the expansion updates.