History of UA

Unlimited Alternatives (UA) is a drop-in center offering peer-support and referral services to those who qualify to be Primary Consumers (referred to as participants) of community mental health services in Kent County Michigan.

 

UA was originally established in 1986 as a drop-in center for Primary Consumers, but merged with Thresholds in 1997.  Then in 1999, Unlimited Alternatives separated drop-in services. A new Board of Directors reactivated the drop-in center’s 501(c)3 status and established what has come to be the present day Unlimited Alternatives.

 

From UA’s reopening until the 2010’s, UA functioned as a provider of peer-support groups and offered other concurrent drop in services. Services focused on independent living and reaching goals related to mental health and/or substance use concerns.

 

During the mid-2010’s UA experienced mission drift and began providing services that appeared to be more focused on the transient population seeking housing crisis support. Then in 2020 Unlimited Alternatives experienced immense change. There was a transition in leadership and, due to safety concerns, the doors of UA were shut to the public for most of the year. This provided an opportunity to reflect, assess, and move forward with mission, programming, and goals realigned to meet stakeholder requirements and provide impact for participants.