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Safe Harbor To Modify Homeless Shelter Proposal

Leaders of a church-based homeless shelter in Traverse City will modify their proposal to lease a city building.

Safe Harbor has never had a building of its own. The winter shelter service moves from church to church, typically every week or two. Steering Committee Member Jeff Lewis says the group would like to lease building on Wellington Street for a dollar a month. The building once housed the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Lewis says the original proposal submitted to the city described services Safe Harbor won’t be able to offer right away offer right away.

“Initially all we’re going to do is we’re going to be an emergency winter shelter that runs from October to April, as we’ve done in the past,” he says.

Ryan Hannon, also of Safe Harbor, says the proposal to the city is being modified to make it clear that, for now, Safe Harbor will continue to offer a basic overnight shelter service in the winter.

But he also says there will be plenty of room in the building to provide other services, and they will be opening the space to other groups to provide services. He also says there will be space for mentors to work with shelter guests on issues such as housing, health care, and other needs.

Safe Harbor is hosting informational meetings this week. The next meeting is Wednesday, 6:30pm at the main branch of the Traverse Area District Library.