All Briefs, Stories & Articles

Poverty is insidious. It can creep in slowly, before you realize it. Even when you know that you have done everything “the right way.” Ann Poehlman is living proof of that. Ann lived a life of service. She worked for 25 years as a Michigan State Police Officer, then left to stay home with their young children. But when her marriage dissolved in 2016, Ann decided to pursue a lifelong dream. “My kids were grown, building their lives,” she explains. “My life’s dream was to be a

Many people assume that qualifying for Social Security disability benefits is straightforward. In reality, the process can be lengthy and complex. Understanding the requirements before applying can improve an applicant's chances of success. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability benefit programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Although both programs use the same medical definition of disability,

Neighbor by Neighbor partnered with the Neighborhood Hotel in New Buffalo for a Community Mural Painting Day. The community was invited to help bring a piece of New Buffalo history to life on the exterior of 115 N. Barton Street. All donations benefited Neighbor by Neighbor. The artwork honors Captain Wessel D. Whittaker—whose schooner ran aground in an 1834 Lake Michigan storm. It serves as an under-discovered but highly walkable hidden gem in the city's downtown core.

A.L.I.C.E. stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It describes hardworking individuals and families who earn more than the federal poverty level but still cannot afford the basic cost of living. They are the cashier who checks you out at the grocery store, the nursing assistant caring for an aging parent, the childcare worker who looks after our children, or the restaurant employee serving your meal. Each year, United Way’s ALICE Report measures how many hous

It was a spring day in 2017, and Rev. Paula Durren was, as usual, at work at Church of the Mediator when her administrative assistant, Linnea Berg, approached her. ​ Dr. Berg possessed a PhD in communications from Northwestern and had retired from nonprofit work. She was doing consulting work for the Pokagon Fund, which offered grant money. Could their church help? Rev. Durren’s answer was immediate. “I said yes! Money to help people have gas cards, get to the doctor and thei

Phil Trimm moves fast and talks faster. His energy, wit and intelligence are readily evident. But back in 1996, he had decided high school was not for him. He dropped out, tried Job Corps, tried college, then, as Phil puts it, “life happened.” On his 21st birthday, he tried drugs — a choice that would start him on a decades-long struggle with addiction. ​ “I finally got it together four years ago. But as soon as I quit using, I came down with anxiety and depression — everythi

Bob Stine’s life trajectory took an abrupt turn thanks to a simple question from his teenage son. ​ “I’d been working in paper distribution for years, but I didn’t like it,” Bob recalls. “We have three boys, and the youngest was getting ready to go to college. One day, he said, ‘Dad, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? You hate your job. You can’t follow me around with sports anymore. You’ve got to find something to do.’ It was very insightful. I thought, if

In 1996, Marcie Dust fled an abusive husband, taking her two children, their dog, their turtle and nothing else. She suffered from chronic illness that kept her from working. A friend in Michigan said they could stay with him awhile. “In Michigan, even the trees were prettier” she remembers. “I could see a new outlook on life—there was hope.” ​ Marcie spent the next three years moving through 15 different places, including a storage locker. “I hoped I’d be able to work and pa

Neighbor by Neighbor is proud to partner with Harbert Community Church and Feeding America West Michigan to help ensure that Harbor Country families have reliable access to healthy, nutritious food. The Mobile Food Pantry provides free fresh produce, dairy products, meat, and other grocery staples through regular drive-through distributions at Harbert Community Church, located at 6444 Harbert Road in Sawyer. The pantry serves hundreds of local households throughout southwest

New SNAP restrictions have had a significant impact throughout Michigan and the country The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will affect thousands of Michigan residents. While the stated goal is to increase workforce participation and improve program accountability, the legislation narrows eligibility requirements and shifts additional financial responsibility to states. These chan