New Directions
Love INC’s New Directions program delivers small-group, skills-based classes across Muskegon County that help ALICE households stabilize and grow. Hosted in partner church buildings (space provided by congregations; curricula/instructors provided by Love INC), classes cover financial literacy/budgeting, parenting, nutrition & cooking, fitness, stress management, spiritual support, and peer support groups. Each participant is paired with a mentor; classes are capped at 10 to maximize engagement. Participants earn points for attendance and coursework that can be redeemed at the Love It Again Resale Store, preserving choice and dignity while meeting immediate needs. Wraparound supports include connection to food pantries, clothing, furniture, appliances/baby items, ramps, and targeted financial assistance to remove barriers (e.g., utilities, car repair, work tools, license fees).
Progress is tracked through attendance, class completion, budget creation, debt reduction, and savings established. Last year participants redeemed 4,320 points and 50 families accessed the program’s Christmas Store. Delivery is accessible and equitable: ADA-accessible sites; free ramp program countywide; bilingual volunteers for Spanish interpretation; form-fill help for neighbors with low literacy; and inclusive volunteer pathways (Michigan Works/ISD, court-ordered service).
Why this supports United Way’s mission/priorities
New Directions directly advances Economic Mobility → Financial Coaching by pairing financial education + mentoring with practical access to resources and limited emergency assistance so families can keep working, reduce debt, and build savings. The program serves Muskegon County neighbors (many ALICE), removes logistical barriers through neighborhood-based sites, and coordinates with local partners (Fresh Coast Alliance, Hope Network, Trinity Health, Compassionate Christian Counseling, Salvation Army, Senior Resources, PNC Bank instructors, Christian Care). United Way funding sustains small class sizes, updates curricula/materials, underwrites participant assistance that unblocks goals, and scales coaching—so more working families can meet basic needs now and build long-term financial stability.