MICHIGAN CITY — For more than three decades, Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. (CCH) has been a cornerstone of support in Michigan City and La Porte County.
The organization was founded in 1991 by DeNita Ton, then with The Salvation Army, who saw firsthand the urgent need for a local emergency family shelter.
At the time, families facing eviction or foreclosure had few options, often receiving only train tickets to distant cities.
Working with Steven Baker and the Rev. Albert Isbel, Ton established CCH to address this gap.
What began as a small family shelter on Ninth Street grew significantly in 2007 with the opening of the Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families at the former Sacred Heart Church rectory, serving thousands over the years.
Sand Castle offers families 30 to 60 days of residential program participation (longer if necessary), with private quarters for seven families in the fully renovated home-like facility.
Under the leadership of the CCH board of directors and executive director Jim Musial, CCH expanded its mission to focus not just on shelter, but on fostering sustainable self-sufficiency.
This shift led to the creation of the Grace Learning Center in 2011, adjacent to Sand Castle Shelter.
Initially offering GED classes, the center has evolved into a comprehensive empowerment program, now providing 23 no cost classes and programs addressing common barriers for participants and community alike.
These include financial literacy, job readiness, computer skills, mental health and substance use disorder support and health and wellness courses.
In response to another critical community need, CCH launched the Keys to Hope Community Resource Center in 2015.
Previously, individuals using night-by-night shelters had nowhere to go during the day. Keys to Hope, open every day of the year, offers showers, laundry, lockers, transportation assistance and primary case management.
The center helps participants regain personal and financial independence as they transition to stable housing. Over its 10 years, Keys to Hope has recorded more than 109,000 visits.
CCH’s commitment to holistic support continued with the introduction of the Food Rescue Initiative in 2019. This program has distributed over four million pounds of food at no cost through local pantries and mobile events, supported by more than 30 partner agencies.
Originally part of the federal Feeding America program, it now includes nutrition classes and ServSafe certification, as well as chair yoga and other wellness activities. The initiative reaches more than 10,000 individuals annually, promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles.
“CCH and its programs stand squarely upon the shoulders of those who came before us, those who formed this organization and its secured its solid foundation,” said Musial.
“All CCH programs work with several dozen community partners and referral agencies. We are very grateful to have the honor to work with such impactful and engaged organization,” he added.
