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Joining together as advocates for holistic, strategic, and well-informed solutions to tackling one of our community's greatest needs: homelessness.

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Cooperative Emergency Shelter

BRINGING SERVICE PROVIDERS TOGETHER

The Community Cares Coalition (CCC), an advocacy group composed of residents, businesses, and service providers of the Grand Traverse region, is excited to announce a proposal for the development of a Cooperative Emergency Shelter. The CCC is seeking collaborative efforts from Safe Harbor, Jubilee House, and other service providers. This initiative aims to enhance the safety, health, and well-being of unhoused individuals, residents, and visitors to Traverse City.

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About the Proposal:

  • The Community Cares Coalition proposes an emergency shelter that operates as a cooperative model, bringing multiple service providers together. The shelter would operate year-round and 24/7. The proposal would follow a “housing-first” philosophy and be a part of the community’s homelessness response system. The building design and professional staff would be trauma-informed and provide enough capacity to be scalable for current and future needs. Additionally, the CCC proposal includes the following onsite services:

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  • Transportation to critical services

  • Coordinated entry

  • Case management/triage

  • Acute mental health support

  • Laundry, mail, showers, service connections, and meals

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Community Need and Benefits:

  • According to data from the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness, there is a need for an additional 180-190 shelter beds during the summer months. The City of Traverse City’s capacity for emergency shelter for seven months of the year through Safe Harbor is approximately 74 beds.The CCC’s proposal aims to meet this demand with a year-round, 24/7 shelter that serves as a cornerstone of the community's response to homelessness. 

 

  • The proposal is currently in the concept phase of development and the group is getting early adopters to sign on to collaborate. Jubilee House, Traverse City’s de-facto day shelter,  was one of the first organizations to agree to partner. ​​​​

To sign a letter of support, click here

Rev. Jim Perra: Jubilee House, Message of Support

Proposal Presentation

Proposed Property

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"The solution to homelessness is simple – housing.

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People experiencing a housing crisis or fleeing an unsafe situation need to find a place to stay, quickly. Emergency shelter and interim housing can fill this role in a community’s homeless response system. These interventions should be low-barrier and align their goals and program activities with the larger system’s goals."

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-National Alliance to End Homelessness

Community Cares Coalition

  • Collaborating with stakeholders to develop a new location and funding for a cooperative year-round emergency shelter

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Principles:

  • Everyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness is vulnerable and deserves dignified and respectful treatment of their rights.

  • Every effort must be made to connect people to housing, shelter and services. 

  • Encampments are a serious public health and safety risk, especially for those staying in the encampment, and are not a dignified form of shelter.

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Health and Safety Concerns for Our Community

  • Living conditions that do not meet safe housing standards.

  • Open drug use.

  • Used needles left on the street and sidewalks and playgrounds.

  • Defecation and urination in public spaces.

  • Threats and disruptive behavior.

  • Risks to the the safety, health and well-being of unhoused individuals, residents and ALL persons working in or visiting the city of Traverse City.

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