TRAVERSE CITY — An effort to reshape how Grand Traverse County addresses homelessness is nearing completion, with a task force recommending consolidation of emergency shelter services even as transportation and access concerns loom large.
The countywide Housing and Homelessness Task Force has identified consolidation of emergency shelters as its top priority, proposing a centralized, year-round operation with up to 165 beds. The plan would bring together services currently split between Safe Harbor, a downtown Traverse City shelter, and the Goodwill Inn in Garfield Township, with Keystone Road identified as the most feasible site.
Task force leaders say consolidation could improve coordination, reduce duplication, and make it easier for people experiencing homelessness to access services in one location.
“We need to build enough shelter space in our community to meet the need, while at the same time developing enough housing to get people out of homelessness permanently,” said Ashley Halliday Schmandt, director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness and a leader of the task force, during a recent county commission meeting.
The recommendation, however, has sparked concern about how relocating services could affect people who rely on downtown access to jobs, health care, food pantries and other daily necessities. Transportation emerged repeatedly in discussions as a potential barrier if shelters move farther from Traverse City’s core.
Safe Harbor representatives acknowledged transportation would be a “huge and important conversation” in determining whether consolidation is feasible.
“Right now, we’re within walking distance for most of these folks for the things that they need to do in their daily lives,” said Joshua Brandt, a representative of Safe Harbor. “We won’t want to do any detriment to what they need.”
Task force members emphasized that no final decision has been made on location and that a consultant is expected to evaluate whether consolidation — particularly at Keystone Road — can work without harming shelter guests. The consultant would review assumptions about bed counts, costs and access before any recommendation moves forward.
While consolidation ranked as the most urgent and important recommendation, Schmandt said it is also the most complex. Providers such as Safe Harbor and Goodwill requested additional time to consult their boards and volunteers, reflecting the scale of change involved and the thousands of stakeholders tied to existing shelters.
Transportation concerns are especially pronounced for individuals with limited mobility or those who depend on walking or public transit. Advocates stressed that any consolidation plan must include solutions to ensure guests can still reach medical care, employment opportunities, and support services.
Beyond shelter consolidation, the task force developed 14 recommendations addressing prevention, outreach, health services and affordable housing. These include expanding permanent supportive housing, increasing access to mobile health care and stabilizing funding for existing housing programs. All recommendations will be included in a strategic direction document expected in February, though only a subset may be prioritized for immediate funding.
“Our responsibility is to make sure guests’ needs come first,” Brandt said. “If consolidation moves forward, it has to be because it truly works better for the people we serve.”
As officials weigh potential efficiencies against accessibility challenges, transportation remains a central question — one that could determine whether consolidation becomes a solution or a new obstacle in the effort to address homelessness in northern Michigan.