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1040 South Martin Luther King Junior Drive Jackson, Michigan 49203
(517) 429-4949
gracehavenhomelesscenter@gmail.com
About Grace Haven Center
Welcome to Grace Haven Center, an Emergency Housing Service providing a safe haven for youth aged 9-17. Offering shelter for up to 21 days, our center is dedicated to supporting those facing homelessness due to family conflict, crisis, or as a runaway.
How it all Started
Grace Haven Center was founded out of a deep concern for the growing number of youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Recognizing the urgent need for emergency housing, our center provides a safe haven for youth ages 9-17 who are facing family conflict, crisis, or have found themselves as runaways. Our mission is to offer temporary shelter, support, and resources to help these vulnerable youth navigate difficult circumstances and find stability.
Our Mission
The mission of Grace Haven Center is to serve youth who are in crisis with shelter, case management and other essential services to be able to reenter society with the tools, confidence, self-management, and faith to succeed in life. We do this by way of youth entering our doors and undergo assessment in a safe environment with dignity and respect. We will supply our residents with tools needed to be successful in school such as life skills development classes and we will also teach problem solving skills and responsibility through exercise.
Our Vision
We envision a future of our youth reuniting with family in a caring and nurturing environment. Our youth returns to school with confidence, self-management and faith to succeed in the classroom. Should a conflict arise, our youth can confidently apply the skills learned from our program to resolve disputes peacefully. When these life skills are applied early in one's life, essentially, we are creating a healthier and safer community for years to come and for all to enjoy.
Serving Jackson County, MI
Located in Jackson county, we are dedicated to helping vulnerable youth find stability and support in their lives.
Providing Shelter
Testimonials
I'm so inspired by the good work your continuing that your Grandmother started. And adapting Grace Haven to benefit even more people, in more ways.
Linda Stingl
I was a regular supporter of Grace Haven when it was open before. For me, it's all about community.
Christina Esser
Grace Haven will be amazing for the Jackson community. If anybody can get it up and running, Derry Petty can! He is a great man who cares about people in need, and I'm proud to call him my friend. Thank you Derry, I wish you all the best!
Niki Tracy
I was thinking about Billie the other day as I passed by Grace Haven. I knew her and she helped me a couple of times during the 90s. I am so very happy to see it reopen because it is so needed. God bless you.
Linda Pickett
About our Director
Derry Petty
Derry is a lifelong Jackson resident of the west side. After graduating from Jackson High School, Derry attended Southern University, a historically black college, in Louisiana. He eventually transferred to Louisiana State University to complete his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. After graduation, Derry moved back home and worked at a local factory. Derry started a family of two, a son and a daughter, Armani and Jordan respectively. Derry attended Baker College in 2002 for massage therapy and graduated in 2004 with his associates. He found his dream job as a therapist in Ann Arbor from 2005 to the start of the pandemic. In 2009, Derry enrolled at Eastern Michigan University to study Exercise Physiology. He received his master’s from EMU in 2014. In the community, Derry is a board of trustee at Lily Missionary Baptist Church since 2011 in which is the same church Derry attended as a child. Derry has donated his massage services at his church’s health events. Derry has also volunteered at Grace Haven during his teenage years and during his undergraduate years working over nights at the shelter while home from college. In addition, Derry participated in toy drives at Grace Haven and made food baskets for the needy. In his spare time, Derry watches Law & Order, reads books, and travels.
1040 South Martin Luther King Junior Drive Jackson, Michigan 49203
(517) 416-5297
gracehavenhomelesscenter@gmail.com
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