Mike DeGrace - Director

Having worked closely with the United Methodist Church, Reverend Miller influenced my decision to become active with the Tuscola Homeless Coalition in March of 2003 as Treasurer. The plight of the rural homeless became a reality, in that, unlike urban homelessness, we do not see the homeless gathered in tents, under bridges, or as “street people” walking with a shopping cart containing all their earthly possessions. With the national efforts to end homelessness and local initiatives to direct the millions and millions of dollars flooding into Tuscola County to alleviate poverty, it became apparent the need for faith-based and community organizations to come together and align themselves with our local Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. It was the hard work of many volunteers over the years that have made the Coalition what it is today! It is the dedication of the folks who are working hard today to make the Tuscola Homeless Coalition what it will be for the future of Tuscola County.

Michael has received his Bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University in California, as well as a diploma from Georgetown University at the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems. While in Washing D.C., he interned on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and completed the Intern Orientation Program from the Library of Congress. He volunteered as a Victim Assistant for the Sexual Assault Program at Child and Family Services of Saginaw for five years. As a former Catholic Lay Minister, he has extensive administrative and pastoral experience.

W. Wallace Kent, Jr. - Director

Was born in 1941, served as a sergeant in the United States Army from 1961 to 1964, graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1965, from the University of Michigan Law School in 1967, and then practiced law until 1977, when he was elected Tuscola County Probate Judge, which he has held since then. He has served as president of the Tuscola County Bar Association, of the Michigan Probate Judges Association, Chairperson of the Judicial Council of the State Bar of Michigan, and is presently on the board of directors of the National College of Probate Judges.   He is involved with the Coalition because in his work dealing with juvenile and family court matters, he sees how often that lack of housing can cause a family to break down.  He believes that early intervention to meet housing needs can often help keep a family together and prevent the family from becoming more dependent on public support to meet all their needs

Sherri Adams - Director

Five and a half years ago a friend asked for my administrative help, it was then I became involved with the Tuscola Homeless Coalition.  What keeps me involved are the board members who bring individual, imperative attributes to the board room.  As a team these qualities compliment this organization thus provides our board with the tools to make strong decisions.  These board members outstanding efforts maintain strong faith-based values, solid foundation of procedures, financial transparency and statistical analysis, that allow this organization to make a positive impact on our community.  For these reasons I am proud to be a volunteer and plan to continue to be apart of the team that moves the Tuscola Homeless Coalition forward in the direction God intends. As a single mom of three children whom has never lived outside of Michigan, I was raised in Oakland County in the village of Holly. I bring twenty-five plus years of experience in the corporate environment as an executive assistant to marketing and agricultural departments.  With two years of college majoring in accounting I currently hold the title of Grower Accountant for Michigan Sugar Company. Michigan Sugar Company is a sugar beet cooperative located in Bay City, Michigan owned by its growers.  A portion of my responsibilities are to maintain the membership within the cooperatives bylaws and within federal cooperative guidelines.

Norm Daniels -  Director

Grew up in the Standish-Sterling Area. Graduated from Standish Sterling High School in 1961.  Attended Delta College then transferred to Michigan State University.  Graduated from MSU with a BA in Business Administration in 1967.  Employed by the Michigan Department of Treasury in 1968 in property tax administration.  Retired from State employment in 2002.  Currently contract appraisal work for various counties. Became involved in homelessness several years ago when I was in the rental business and was contacted by Community Mental Health to house a number of their clients in a supervised group home setting.  Nearly all of the CMH clients were homeless at the time they were placed in my rental houses.  I got to know the clients quite well and still see many of them around the Caro community.

Denny Daniels - Director

My involvement with the Tuscola Homeless Coalition is a natural outgrowth of a lifetime commitment to social ministry.  Ordained a Lutheran minister in 1972, I participated in a social/community ministry in downtown Saginaw, Michigan, that I help design with three friends from Seminary.  After 2 years and writing the first comprehensive substance abuse services grant to be funded in Saginaw County, I became pastor of Grace Lutheran in Vassar where I served 13 years.  During this period I became involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a board member and a Big Brother.             I also became part of the Community Corrections (PA511) having been on the community board and writing the grant to fund the program.  Leaving the parish in Vassar, I transitioned into a larger role in Community Corrections and was director and grant writer for 12 years.  This led to my time as a board member and 15 year volunteer with the Folwer Center, a camping experience for the developmentally disabled.  After Community Corrections, I took the position of Director of the Assault Crisis Center, the residential program for victims of domestic and sexual violence for the thumb area,  I was the first and only male to occupy such a position.          I then worked at Huron County Mental Health in an experimental program to address Dually Diagnosed clients, those with both Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Mental Health issues.  I also worked at Bridges, a residential center for highly abused children and teenagers as a group therapist.  Throughout my career, I have been a part-time alcohol/substance abuse therapist at various agencies.  I also have experience working in the prison system as a group therapist as well being a therapist running groups for domestic violence perpetrators.  I have also served 12 years as a school board member in Vassar and Caro.