Listening Ear Crisis Center — Housing, Youth, and Disability Programs in Isabella and Clare Counties.
Listening Ear Crisis Center in Mt. Pleasant runs several programs that directly help low-income residents of Isabella and Clare Counties — affordable rental housing, transitional housing for homeless youth, residential care for adults with disabilities, and a 24-hour crisis and referral line. If one of those fits your situation, this page explains in Plain-English what each program covers and how to access it.
The Listening Ear Crisis Center, based in Mt. Pleasant, has operated across mid-Michigan since 1969 and now serves more than 20,000 people annually across multiple counties. The organization does considerably more than what's covered here — crisis counseling, foster care, and other services — but the programs below are the ones most relevant to people dealing with housing instability or financial hardship in mid-Michigan. The Listening Ear Crisis Center address is at 107 E. Illinois St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. Website is https://listeningear.com/. Phone is (989) 772-2918
Affordable rental housing — Isabella County
Listening Ear manages more than 70 rental units for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes in Isabella County. This is actual, managed affordable housing — not a voucher referral or a waiting list pointer — meaning Listening Ear is the landlord and directly manages the units. Government housing vouchers, including Section 8, are accepted - see our Michigan section 8 page. To inquire about availability or apply, go to 107 E. Illinois St., Mt. Pleasant during office hours, or call the main office. Availability varies, so contact them directly for current openings.
Transitional Living Program — homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 21
The Transitional Living Program (TLP) is for young people in Isabella and Clare Counties who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or who have left unsafe homes — including those who have aged out of foster care or court placements. It provides stable housing for up to 18 months alongside case management, life skills training, educational and employment support, and counseling.
The point of the program is to give young people enough support to reach genuine independence, not just temporary shelter. This also means help with things like finishing school, opening a bank account, finding work, and figuring out next steps. Staff are on call 24 hours a day to respond to crises and will meet youth at their location. There is no cost to participate. The only requirement is a willingness to engage and work toward personal goals.
Youth who don't need full transitional housing but are at risk can also access up to 90 days of prevention and aftercare services, including counseling, family mediation, and connection to community resources.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Program
For youth who have run away or are acutely homeless and need immediate shelter, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHYP) provides short-term emergency placement in addition to advocacy and counseling. Parents can also reach out if they are trying to reconnect with a child. Contact the 24-hour crisis line to get a youth connected.
Residential services for adults with developmental disabilities
Listening Ear provides community-based residential care for adults aged 18 and older with developmental disabilities across Antrim, Clare, Ionia, Isabella, and Kalkaska Counties. Depending on the person's individualized plan, this can mean a group home setting or a semi-independent living arrangement. Support is available 24 hours a day. There are no fees unless determined by the referring agency — access requires a referral through Community Mental Health. For information, call (989) 773-6904 ext. 3241.
24-hour crisis and referral line
Anyone in Isabella or Clare County can call the crisis line at any hour — it's not limited to mental health emergencies. Staff can help callers work through problems, connect them with community resources, and provide referrals to other agencies. All calls are confidential.
- Isabella County: (989) 772-2918
- Clare County: (989) 386-2774
How to reach Listening Ear Crisis Center
Location is 107 E. Illinois St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. Website: listeningear.com and phone number is (989) 772-2918
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
Need help navigating programs?