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Safe Harbor homeless shelter in Traverse City to partially re-open during COVID-19 pandemic

Max Johnston
/
Interlochen Public Radio

The Safe Harbor homeless shelter in Traverse City is partially re-opening due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In late March the seasonal facility announced they were closing earlyto prevent guests from catching or spreading the diease. 

Starting Thursday, April 2 Safe Harbor will open from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Chairman Mike McDonald says each day they will offer some resources to people experiencing homelessness.

"Those experiencing homelessness (have) an opportunity to come in and get showers, use the computers, get laundry done, have remote access to medical facilities if they're not feeling well," McDonald said.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodwill Inn of Northern Michigan is also expanding outreach to people experiencing homelessness and the unsheltered.

A spokeswoman for Governor Gretchen Whitmer says her office is currently exploring options to help them during the pandemic.

Max came to IPR in 2017 as an environmental intern. In 2018, he returned to the station as a reporter and quickly took on leadership roles as Interim News Director and eventually Assignment Editor. Before joining IPR, Max worked as a news director and reporter at Michigan State University's student radio station WDBM. In 2018, he reported on a Title IX dispute with MSU in his story "Prompt, Thorough and Impartial." His work has also been heard on Michigan Radio, WDBM and WKAR in East Lansing and NPR.