Social services forum held by Niles planning commission

A planning commission is developing a master plan in Niles.

A social services forum was held at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday to address health care, youth issues, crisis intervention, and poverty.

As the largest city in Berrien County, Niles is also in the greatest need of publicly available services, with over 30 percent of the population living in severe poverty. 

The floor was open to the public to voice their thoughts. 

"It's really just a matter of what's going on in this county. So it's really just a matter of taking the initiative and educating the Gryphon Place on what is here." said one participant. 

Although the city has quite a few issues to address, both Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties offer suicide prevention, diversion prevention, legal aid services via phone 24 hours a day.