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Homeless residents urge county to halt May 6 closure of The Pines shelter
Summary
Two people who identified themselves as living in or assisting residents of The Pines shelter told the board closing the site would leave people with nowhere to go and urged the county to delay or provide a clearer plan for housing alternatives.
Audrey Willett, who identified herself at the meeting as homeless, told the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners she has been trying for seven years to find housing and said closing The Pines on May 6 would leave residents with nowhere to go.
"I am human just like you, and I am tired of fighting every day for the little bit of crumbs that I get," Willett said, describing life in her van and the difficulty of finding affordable housing in Traverse City. She told the board she had asked the chief of police where she could park and was told "Walmart," which she said is not a viable or lasting option.
A second resident, who identified herself as "Grama," echoed those concerns and said The Pines provides nearby services, partial accessibility and bus access that many other options lack. Grama said long waiting lists for affordable housing mean the city needs a delay and a better plan before eviction actions are carried out.
The board did not take a formal vote tied to those public comments during the meeting. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the housing shortage during later agenda items and referenced related county efforts, but no new directive or timeline tied to The Pines closure was recorded on the meeting agenda or in motions made at the session.
Why it matters: Several subsequent agenda items — including a health‑department presentation on Community Connections and commissioner reports about housing events and outreach — underscored that housing and related social services remain a pressing local need. Public comment raised the practical consequences for people who rely on temporary shelter, and speakers asked the board to consider timing and mitigation before any shelter closure.
What’s next: Commissioners and county staff discussed related programs and a county‑level public health contract later in the meeting (Community Connections), but the transcript records no binding board action at this meeting to delay or change plans for The Pines.
