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Nonprofits ask Grand Traverse County for $200,000 to help Safe Harbor run year‑round
Summary
Presenters from regional foundations and shelter operators asked the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners for $200,000 over two years to bridge a funding gap and enable Safe Harbor to expand from a seasonal shelter toward year‑round operations; staff said a timely county decision is needed to align with a special‑land‑use permit application.
Dave Mangabeer, president and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, told the county board at a study session that regional partners are seeking $200,000 from Grand Traverse County for each of the next two years to help Safe Harbor transition toward year‑round shelter operations. "We hope today's information can help in the decision making process to secure $200,000 in funding from Grand Traverse County for both 2024 and 2025," Mangabeer said.
The presenters said homelessness is a region‑wide problem and described a Homelessness Collective of more than 20 stakeholders working on shelter alternatives and service coordination. Sakura Takano, identified on the record as a nonprofit CEO, and Ashley Holiday Schmidt, director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness, urged the board to fund an interim expansion while creating a task force to develop a comprehensive plan. Schmidt said the collective has helped 138 people move into stable housing since April and reported diversion efforts have kept many people from entering shelter. She said Safe Harbor's seasonal closure leaves "about 80 to 100 people" sleeping outdoors on cold nights.
Safe Harbor board chair Pat Livingston described the shelter's current seasonal operations (Oct. 15–April 30), its nightly safety cap of 74 guests despite a 90‑bed permit, and the volunteer model that supports meals and services. Wayne Sternberg, Safe Harbor treasurer, walked commissioners through a $1.1 million year‑round budget in which staffing accounts for roughly 69 percent of costs. He listed existing commitments: a private lead gift of $150,000, the City of Traverse City at $125,000, the Olson Foundation $50,000 and Munson Healthcare $50,000, leaving about $225,000 uncommitted; presenters asked the county for $200,000 to largely fill that shortfall.
Commissioners pressed presenters on staffing and volunteer capacity, whether volunteers could replace paid staff and the status of a special‑land‑use permit (SLUP) the city would need to approve expanded operations. Presenters said volunteers are vital but cannot substitute for trained staff who handle trauma and crisis response. On the SLUP, presenters said they will file once funding is in place and noted timing of county action is sensitive to that permitting process.
Several residents spoke during a public‑comment period in support of Safe Harbor while urging the county to tie funding to clear benchmarks and to plan for a long‑term, evidence‑based shelter model. Betsy Corbett said she supports immediate solutions but asked the board to "confirm where the funding is applied as well as be supportive of other locations, a cooperative model and show a unified front of support." Kara Galvin, an ER nurse, urged that funds be used to move toward evidence‑based, 24/7 clinical supports and a model that includes wraparound services.
County staff flagged the SLUP timing and asked to bring the formal funding request back at the board's first February meeting for consideration. No formal appropriation was made at the study session.
