In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988. For local resource referrals in Michigan, dial 2-1-1 any time.
Start with the most urgent need
When several things are wrong at once it is hard to know where to begin. Most people get help faster when they sort needs into three buckets: right now (tonight's safety, food, medication), this week (an eviction notice, a shut-off notice, a missed appointment), and ongoing (income, housing stability, health coverage).
Handle the "right now" bucket first, even if it means a temporary fix. Organizations that help with the longer-term problems will still be there next week, and they work better with someone who has slept and eaten.
- Immediate danger or a medical emergency: call 911.
- Suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
- General help finding local resources in Michigan: dial 2-1-1, free and 24/7.
- Everything else: browse the Kalamazoo Care Network directory by category.
Use the Help Finder instead of guessing
You do not need an account, an email address, or an ID to browse this site. The Help Finder asks a few short questions about your situation and points you to the categories of local organizations that match. Nothing you type into it is attached to your name.
If you already know what you need — groceries, a shelter bed, a clinic — you can skip straight to that category page and see participating organizations with their contact details.
What to bring to your first visit
Requirements vary by program, and many will help you the first time regardless of what you can produce. Bringing what you have speeds things up, but a missing document is rarely a reason to stay home.
- Photo ID for adults, if you have one.
- Proof of address or the ZIP code where you are staying (some programs serve specific areas).
- Names and birthdates for everyone in your household.
- Any notice you received — eviction, shut-off, denial letter — since it often changes which program applies.
- A phone number or email where someone can reach you.
What happens when an organization takes your information
Most agencies keep a record of the help they provide. On this network, participating organizations can see that a person has been served elsewhere without seeing that person's identifying details, and they can only see more when the person has explicitly given consent.
The point is coordination, not surveillance: it prevents you from repeating your story at five different desks and helps the next agency pick up where the last one left off. You can ask any organization what they store and who can see it.
If the first answer is no
Funding runs out, waitlists fill, and eligibility rules are narrow. A "no" from one program is usually about that program's rules on that day, not about you.
Ask three questions before you leave: when does this reopen, who else in the county does this, and can you refer me there. Organizations in the network can send a referral directly to another agency on your behalf, which is faster than starting over.
Common questions
- Do I need an account to find help?
- No. Browsing the directory, category pages, and the Help Finder is free and requires no account, email address, or identification.
- Is this a government program?
- No. Kalamazoo Care Network is a shared portal used by local nonprofit and community organizations to coordinate services. It does not distribute benefits itself.
- What if I do not live in Kalamazoo County?
- Many listed organizations serve only specific service areas. Dialing 2-1-1 anywhere in Michigan will route you to resources for the county you are in.
Kalamazoo Care Network lists organizations that participate in the network. We do not screen, rank, or guarantee any program — always confirm hours and eligibility with the organization directly. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.