homelessness

A wooded area near Traverse City held an encampment for people who are unsheltered, until this past week, when police cleared out the area. We'll hear what happened. Plus, we walk around the centerpiece of the Grand Traverse Commons with two composers who were tasked with writing music about an old psychiatric hospital.

A yellow police line encircled the area after the sweep displaced about 14 people who had been living in tents among the trees near 11th and Division streets.

The Traverse City homeless shelter normally closes its doors for the summer at the end of April. But this May, the shelter will stay open.

County commissioners will give Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing $125,000 a year for two years, with a possible extension for a third year. They also discussed the need for a better process on awarding excess cannabis, opioid, and American Rescue Plan funds.

While officials backed the idea, it still has a long way to go before it becomes reality.

Goodwill of Northern Michigan hopes to lock in some of the units for permanent supportive housing.

A new development will dedicate a portion of its apartments to those experiencing chronic homelessness in northwestern lower Michigan.

The Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness will send teams to count people in Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties.

Every year, about 13,000 people die in the United States while experiencing homeless. In 2021, the Traverse City region had 11 people die while dealing with a housing emergency. The Silent Walk for National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day will take place at the Grand Traverse Governmental Center Tuesday, December 21st at 7p.m.

As winter approaches, some Michiganders are still weathering the pandemic without a home. Ashley Halladay-Shmandt, director for Northwest Michigan…