TRAVERSE CITY — Homelessness is a big issue in Traverse City, which is home to the Pines homeless encampment near the old state hospital and Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse emergency shelter.
“They’re people that are down and out and really struggling to survive. And we really need to come together as a community to serve this population better,” says Ryan Hannon, director of outreach and discipleship at Traverse City Central United Methodist Church.
There are many different nonprofits and churches who provide meals, showers, and clothes for people who are homeless, but the city of Traverse City is still looking to do more to solve the issue surrounding the pines encampment. In May, the city approved funding to tackle the issue.
“Everyone elected and in the staff knows that the way the Pines have been the last few years is untenable. It’s not safe living conditions hygienically. It’s not safe for physical safety. It’s not a solution at all that we can look at,” said Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe.
The city has a quick response team that partners with the Traverse City Police Department and organizations like Goodwill Northern Michigan to help, but even with these resources are not a solution to the problem.
“Homelessness is much more noticeable now after COVID, and the city is really taking the brunt of unsheltered homelessness as other townships in the surrounding area essentially criminalize homelessness. So now we see more people in the city,” said Hannon.
“We’ve always had issues with housing and homelessness here. Some of the unfortunate circumstances like the Pines have really put it at the front, but it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t always been an issue here with citizens here,” Shamroe explained.
Monday night’s city commission meeting will raise the issue of keeping Safe Harbor open year-round. This isn’t the first time the issue has been raised.
Even if the shelter goes year-round, it will still only give people a place to sleep at night.
“At the end of the day, if we have more housing, people don’t need shelters because they have places to stay. But in the meantime, we know that to alleviate the pressure at places like the Pines and some of the other issues that have sprung up in recent years. A year-round shelter seems to be the best solution that we have available right now,” said Shamroe.
The shelter opens for the season on Oct. 15. You can find more information and donate here.