What's Happening

By Li Ma, Director of Development, 
Opportunity Resource Fund

April 20, 2026, Grand Rapids, Michigan – Growing up, Avanti Footman knew the feeling of “home” with a backyard and neighbors as space and security that define happiness. This was before her parents’ divorce, which led to her moving from a house into a two bedroom apartment shared with her mom and two brothers. The shift made the instability feel real, a contrast she still remembers. 

Years later, as a mother herself, Avanti rented responsibly in Grand Rapids, Michigan, paid her rent on time, and cared for each place she lived. Yet twice, landlords reclaimed their homes, giving her just 30 days to move. “It was heartbreaking,” she recalled. “My daughter had lived her first five years there, and we had to leave with almost no warning.” The instability she had promised herself she would never pass on to her children seemed unavoidable.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Avanti relied on a Section 8 voucher to help keep her housing affordable. She continued paying rent even when agencies fell behind in processing payments. But when the system later sent retroactive funds to correct her ledger, confusion with her landlord led to conflict. When she asked for clarification, communication broke down. 

Soon, another 30 day notice arrived. Avanti still remembers standing before the judge, explaining that she wasn’t behind, hadn’t damaged anything, and was only asking for fairness. The judge granted her additional time, but the message was clear: she and her children still had to go.

“I knew then that I couldn’t keep living like that,” she said. “I didn’t want my family to be uprooted just because someone else decided it was time.” The dream of owning a home – something steady, something hers – rose to the surface again.

Yet the path to ownership was not easy. Traditional lenders told her no. Despite years of responsible tenancy and stable income, the doors of conventional mortgage financing remained closed. “The local banks wouldn’t pre approve me,” she said. 

That changed when she was referred to Opportunity Resource Fund. For Avanti, it was the first time a financial institution looked at her with possibility instead of limitation. “They were the only ones who said, ‘We’re going to get to the end,’” she recalled. OppFund staff walked with her through every step, making sure she understood the process and helping her rebuild confidence that homeownership was not only possible, but within reach.

With their support, Avanti purchased a modest, welcoming home in the neighborhood she grew up in. For the first time, she felt rooted. “I no longer have to answer to anyone but the bank,” she said, smiling. “My daughters can go outside and play. They have cousins down the street.” Stability has also allowed her to extend generosity outward: hosting friends who need a place to stay; supporting family; and creating the warm, communal home she longed for as a child.

Later in 2025, another job loss caused her to fall behind on her mortgage. Once again, Opportunity Resource Fund stood beside her. Through its Homeowner Relief Fund, she received assistance to get back on track. “They don’t just help you get into a home,” she said. “They help you stay in a home.”

At Opportunity Resource Fund’s 40 year anniversary gala, Avanti joined to celebrate the impact of this organization that helped her family stay in her home and beloved neighborhood.

Today, Avanti speaks of her home not only as a personal milestone but as a turning point for future generations. “I was able to create generational wealth,” she said. “To break generational curses.”

And to others facing circumstances like hers, she offers simple, steady encouragement: “Don’t give up. Keep going. Use your resources. Trust God.”

With the Adrian Dominican Sisters Portfolio Advisory Board impact investment, Opportunity Resource Fund’s loans are creating meaningful change for communities throughout Michigan.  
 

Caption for above feature photo: Avanti Footman and one of her daughters stand in their new house. Avanti bought the home through the help of the Opportunity Resource Fund.

April 13, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – Every piece of writing starts from the “tiny seed” of a thought, feeling, or the imagination. This writing workshop, “From a Tiny Seed,” is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2026, in person at Weber Retreat and Conference Center or virtually through Zoom. 

Come join with others to see where your imagination will take you. Participants will write, read their work, and receive feedback on their strengths from one another. Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, a certified leader of Amherst Writers and Artists Workshops, will facilitate.

The cost is $35 and registration is required. Visit www.webercenter.org and click on “programs,” call 517-266-4000, or email [email protected]. Limited scholarships are available. A Zoom link will be sent closer to the workshop date.

Weber Center is on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse, Adrian, Michigan. On East Siena Heights Drive, turn into the driveway between Adrian Rea Literacy Center and the solar panel-covered carport. Follow the signs to Weber Center. For information, call the Weber Center at 517-266-4000.

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