Exodus Place - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Nicole R.

Concerns Regarding Admission Process and Staff Conduct

I recently had the opportunity to engage with Exodus Place, an organization that claims to assist men facing homelessness. Unfortunately, my experience with their admission team was disappointing and raised serious concerns about their commitment to their mission.

From the outset, the admission staff was unwelcoming and dismissive. Rather than demonstrating compassion and professionalism, they appeared to be bothered with our presence and showed little interest in getting to know the individual seeking help. Their approach created an environment of discomfort and discouragement—an unfortunate irony for an agency that purports to serve vulnerable individuals in need of support.

The lack of empathy and engagement from the team raises questions about the integrity of their intake process. A critical part of any assistance program should be to assess individuals with fairness and dignity, ensuring they receive the help they need. However, the dismissive attitude exhibited by the staff suggests a failure to uphold this basic responsibility.

For an organization that claims to be a resource for homeless men, it is imperative that staff receive proper training in professionalism, empathy, and unbiased service. If Exodus Place is truly committed to its mission, I strongly urge its leadership to re-evaluate their admission process, ensure their team treats every individual with dignity, and reinforce a culture of genuine support.

Until meaningful changes are made, I would advise individuals seeking assistance to approach with caution and explore alternative resources that truly prioritize their well-being.

Zachary J.

I did community service here and they kicked me out simply for asking if I could play guitar and sing for the residents here. They literally yelled at me and threatened to call the police on me, just for asking, and told me I was never allowed there again, just for asking to sing and play for the residents.
They said I was no longer able to do my community service there, they acted as if I was refusing to help, when all I WANTED to do was help.
I had done community service there multiple times and had over 40 hours of service., and they told me I was never allowed back. I also used to be a resident at exodus and I <---- got kicked out when I had a roommate <---- who was being threatening towards ME. I expected that my roommate should have been kicked out, not the other way around. And why was I being yelled at and kicked out simply for asking if I could sing and play for the residents there? I was so confused and they were completely disrespectful and showed no kindness. Exodus place has repeatedly done this to me, someone who only paid $700 to live there every month, and followed their ridiculous rules of having to have your shirt on when you shave. The exodus place manager even threatened to call the police on me for just asking to speak to someone at the desk about issues I was having and accused me of being argumentative. I was so confused and uncomfortable. This is the second time I had been kicked out as a resident or as a worker. The workers there will BADLY disrespect you and threaten to call the police if you try speaking with them. They don't make any sense and they have no kindness or compassion toward any issues that you are having. I simply would not recommend Exodus place as a place to be, even AFTER cleaning their DISGUSTING kitchen that has fruit flies and mold LITERALLY in many places. Including mold under the dishwasher that is STILL there. The kitchen manager got in my face. Asked me questions about if I was on drugs or not. Also slammed a door in my face. (I quit drugs and alcohol a while ago, btw), and literally PHYSICALLY followed me around uncomfortably close when I walked around the building. I felt so uncomfortable and didn't know what to do. My community service manager here would not listen to a word I had to say regarding this situation or why I was being told to leave the building. The workers behind the desk are very stressed for some reason. It feels like a jail environment and the workers talk down to the residents. They literally will tell you that you are being argumentative, and then you'll end up arguing with them about that. Terrible way to treat someone who only wants to help, pay their rent, do community service, and try to have a decent day with the residents there, and play some guitar. I have a good heart and have only ever wanted to make a positive difference in that place, and have been constantly belittled and disrespected. Not a good place to WORK, OR live. Not to mention that they charge a ridiculous amount for rent, just to SHARE a room with someone, and they make you give them your food stamps. ($291 per month JUST in food stamps) I would not feel comfortable at Exodus ever again in my life.

Ms. K. K.

I know someone very well that use to live here. The ppl are rude, they charge over 600 a month for expenses, how are ppl that have low income hobs suppose to pay "rent" if they barely are getting 250 a week in wages. They don't work with the residents and if they do they won't rework with them if they fall behind due to unforeseen circumstances like roommates stealing money from other roommates. Seems unfair to me. It's sad that a nonprofit organization charges so much to ppl looking to move up in the world from homelessness. How when they have to pay so much. If your suppose to be a hand up not a hand out then where's the hand up? Instead they would rather put you out on a freezing cold night where you have no place else to go, not even a shelter.

Aaron B.

Absolutely worthless. If you have $689 a month go live under a bridge. You'd be better off. Facilities are unbearable. 130 people and 8 toilets( mostly don't work or are so unsanitary) the food is atrocious. I literally got food poisoning and stomach infections that resulted in IBS which will be a life long thing thanks to their staffs inability to cook chicken properly. Bed bugs, lice, never seen it before going there.

Casey J.

My husband and I stumbled upon Exodus Place a couple years ago and have been blessed time and time again by volunteering here. The men that live here are blessed by the staff and amenities that they provide. Exodus Place gives a "hand up, not a hand out." They invest in the men emotionally, physically and spiritually by providing them with a place to live (low rent), 3 meals a day (by using their food stamps), case workers to help with health and pastors to pour into their souls. We love our time spent here.

Anthony W.

This place is horrible,they charge a ridiclous rent amount only for the person to share a room with someone else,this place should shut down

Cory M. M.

I love living here, this is a Christian agency that provides us with meals, medical, case management, Devotional and Bible Study classes. I feel like the staff here really cares about us and go out of their way to help us. My only problem is like any other low-income community a lot of the other members of this program are apart of the entitlement crowd and are very ungrateful. But as long as you can tune out the entitlement crowd and focus on leveling up your life while you live here it's a really great place to be.

timothy

i lived there from july 2023 to july this year and from the short year spand this place sucked they make up there own rules along with bed bugs logged in to there emails on there computer by not doing anything about it no outside help and when they actually get outside help the charge the persons room $100 on top of there rent there out right cheap on everything there is mice in the kitchen falty wiring throughout the place very rude staff the feed you spegetti os and rice and sliced cheese sandwhiches or raw chicken there honestly really useless as a shelter but for the people i came in contact with while i was there other then staff this does not pretain to you so please no hard feelings also there workforce program doesnt get you but 500$ rent u still have to pay for three meals they give even if you dont eat it i feel really bad for even attempting to live there but my situation was needed for it but never again will i step foot thru those doors again