Safe Harbor Shelter

The Traverse City Human Rights Commission thinks homeless people in Traverse City are being treated unfairly. The commission passed a non-binding “Bill of Rights” for homeless people at its meeting last night.

The document lists ten rights, including being able to move freely “without harassment or intimidation.” Commissioner Patricia Nugent says the idea came after the commission heard about some of the abuses suffered by homeless people.

In a split vote Monday, the Traverse City Commission gave final approval to new rules governing homeless shelters. The move paves the way for formal debate over a specific emergency shelter proposal. Safe Harbor, which is made up of a consortium of churches that take turns housing the homeless in the winter months, wants to open a 100-bed facility off Eighth Street on Wellington.

Leaders of Safe Harbor say they believe their plans will pass muster under these new rules, and they hope to open Traverse City’s first homeless shelter before the end of the year.

Traverse City expects a big turnout next month for a public hearing on emergency homeless shelters.

There are no specific zoning guidelines today.

Under the proposal, emergency shelters would be allowed in 10 city districts.

A section of Wellington Street where a consortium of churches would like to run a shelter does fall within one of those districts.

But City Planner Russ Soyring says there would be more hurdles for the group to cross, if these rules were adopted.

The debate over homeless shelters in Traverse City will go to a sub-committee on Monday. Traverse City’s planning commission wants a recommendation about where emergency homeless shelters will be allowed in city limits.

There are currently no shelters in the city, but one has been suggested. The proposed homeless shelter within city limits has been a controversial issue lately.

Russ Soyring, planning director for the city, says the facilities are a safety net.

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.