Nonprofit takes ‘leap of faith’ at old Teen Challenge Center

In response to a rapid increase in gun violence and homicide in Lansing, a newly formed nonprofit organization wants to open a shelter and home in the former Teen Challenge Center on Lansing’s northwest side for men transitioning out of foster care, prison and homelessness. 

Darren Bolinger created the nonprofit organization MI Just Cause late last year with the goal of providing housing, employment opportunities, and spiritual guidance — all under one roof. 

The latest plan: Transform the former addiction-focused Teen Challenge Center at 510 W. Willow Street into a space for men to live and receive occupational training and mentorship as they transition into full-time employment and, eventually, a permanent place to call home.  

Bolinger, who served as director of the men’s shelter at the City Rescue Mission on Michigan Avenue, believes that local men risk turning to violence when they lack not only safe housing, but also access to employment opportunities and mentorship, he said. 

“About 40% of the guys that we saw didn’t have a male role model in their life. They didn’t have a father — somebody to help lead them and guide them,” Bolinger explained last week. “The Bible says iron sharpens iron. Everybody needs somebody to call you out when you’re out of line and to rejoice with you in times of excitement.” 

After months of searching for a location, Bolinger believes God brought MI Just Cause to the Teen Challenge building through its owner, “Discount Dave” Sheets. Sheets, known as Lansing’s Mattress King, owns over 100 local properties, according to county records. 

Sheets offered the nonprofit group a “generous discount” on a three-year land contract on the property that begins this month, Bollinger said. He declined to divulge additional details about the contractual arrangement, except to emphasize that the deal was “a good fit” for the group.

Bolinger also readily admitted that the property is much larger than he was initially seeking. With over 17,000 square feet, 48 bedrooms, a commercial kitchen and a pole barn, he estimates the starting costs of renovating the facility to be somewhere between $2 million and $5 million.  

The group is starting off with a $9,900 donation from 242 Church in Okemos, where Bolinger was recently employed as its logistics director, and actively looking for more donations. 

“I’m the first one to admit that this is insane,” Bolinger said during a brief tour. “This has been a leap of faith. I know it looks insane on paper, but I know God will provide for it.” 

Before it closed in 2017, the Teen Challenge Center had served for over 60 years as a place to help local teenagers find housing and recover from substance abuse. In its final years, the outfit reportedly struggled with maintenance and financing and it was sold at an auction to Sheets. 

Sheets said he originally hoped to make some repairs and flip the property for a sizable profit but ultimately decided he “owed one to God” to sell the property to the group for a modest $200,000 — a $300,000 loss, by his math, because he values the property at about $500,000.

In the lobby, broken windows are still dotted with bullet holes. Glass is scattered around inside. Chunks of plaster have been swept up from bedroom floors, but holes remain in the ceilings. Paint hangs in sheets off the wall, the result of a roof repair that came far too late. The freezing air smelled suspiciously like something died inside. The long, dark hallways echo the chirps of smoke detectors with batteries on the verge of dying out. Bollinger has his work cut out for him. 

The building also lost its zoning status for a shelter after years of vacancy. For now, MI Just Cause can only allow six residents to stay inside unless the city approves a rezoning request. Bolinger said he plans to submit an application that would allow up to 50 men to stay there.  

In the meantime, Bolinger said MI Just Cause will select a small group of men who can start living in the building as early as next month while they double as an in-house renovation team. 

Bolinger said the strength of his nonprofit organization resides in its board members. Among them: Zachary Pope, Mark Grafton, Dan Hofstra, Jason Feig and James Keyton. Bolinger said he met Keyton — a former NFL linebacker — while working at the City Rescue Mission. 

Keyton also introduced Bolinger to Derrick Knox, cochairman of the Metro Lansing Poor People’s Campaign and director of the employment-focused nonprofit, the Advancement Corp., which also plans to offer occupational training after residents start moving into the building. 

Knox’s outfit also recently bought the C. W. Otto Middle School to create a community center. 

Bolinger plans to work closely with local residents and neighborhood associations as the plans start coming together. Officials with MI Just Cause also recently met with Lansing Mayor Andy Schor to explore what other rehabilitative services the nonprofit can offer at the new space. 

“We’re really digging in deep in this neighborhood,” Bolinger said. “We’re already looking into adopting the school, shoveling snow and how we can use the kitchen to provide a free diner.” 

Although religious guidance is a fundamental component of the plans, Bolinger emphasized that biblical counseling is entirely optional — which could enable broader access to public funding. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, for our organization, and for the city of Lansing. We’re going to do some transformative things for people and for the community,” Bolinger said. 

MI Just Cause is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization capable of receiving tax-deductible donations. Bolinger said support from the community will be key to keeping his plans on track. 

“We need everything. We need workers, people who know what they are doing. We need paint, kitchen items, household goods, beds. We are starting with nothing,” Bolinger said.