The mission of the Miller Community House (MCH) is to improve the quality of life for our residents by providing a 30-day shelter that includes advocacy, information, and referrals to area resources and collaborative agencies.
MCH was started by Marie Miller, who served as the director of Kent Social Services (KSS) for over 20 years. During her time as director for KSS, she identified the need for a homeless shelter in the Kent community. She approached the Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority (PMHA) about converting a building they owned into a shelter. In 1985, the shelter opened, serving 11 people, with PMHA owning the building and KSS handling the daily operations.
In 2002, when KSS merged with Axess Family Services, then Family & Community Services, a new building was built and named in honor of Marie. Today, MCH provides emergency shelter and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. The shelter consists of 5 large bedrooms and common areas, including a living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room, playroom, and a patio and playground. Food and basic personal items are provided to those who need them.
Residents have the option to meet with advocates on a weekly basis to establish and implement a plan to acquire permanent housing. While housing is the primary goal of these plans due to the limitations on the length of stay, plans may also include education, counseling, job searching, financial planning, and other goals.
