Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

Caring, Compassionate, Community-Focused

become a volunteer

Update: Year-round shelter.

Task force update - January 2026

Safe Harbor staff

Safe Harbor will remain open year-round

About Safe Harbor

Food, Shelter, Hope

Safe Harbor supports the physical and spiritual welfare of people experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter, food, and hope.

 

We operate a non-profit, volunteer-run Seasonal Emergency Shelter and a year-round Housing & Human Services Resource Center. As part of the Continuum of Care, we also focus on community partnerships in order to better collaborate on long-term solutions to ending homelessness in our region.

Why Volunteer

Since 2004, thousands of volunteers have given their time and love to help others in their community through Safe Harbor, which operates year-round. The more you learn about our people, our guests and our mission, the more you’ll want to join us.

Donate

Safe Harbor is largely volunteer-operated. This means your donation goes directly to the shelter functions.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Safe Harbor’s effort. Select from a one-time Sponsoring of a Day, a Bed, or Subscribing Monthly. Learn more about our donation process and which items we accept at what time. View some of our most common donation types below.

  • Help Sponsor a Day
    $50
    The overhead to run our shelter program include not only the utilities and facility upkeep, but the often unseen things like insurance and other operational expenses.
  • Sponsor a Bed
    $250
    By sponsoring at this level, you help Safe Harbor cover the costs for one of our 82 nightly shelter spots for an entire season.

Community Partners

Safe Harbor is grateful to our wonderful community of partners, without which our mission would not be possible. Our thanks to the following groups that have provided caring, compassionate hospitality to our guests at Safe Harbor.

Grace Episcopal Church
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids
St. Philip Neri
Northern Lakes Community Church
Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints
Goodwill Inn
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Goodwill Street Outreach
Goodwill Housing Support
Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness
West Side Community Church
Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing (NMSH)
Faith Reformed Church
Munson Family Practice
Food Rescue of Northern Michigan
Bayview Church
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Traverse City Police Department
Munson Healthcare
Christ the King Catholic Church
GTC Health Department
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Central United Methodist Church
Sojourn Church
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse
New Hope Community Church
Traverse Health Clinic
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA)
Presbyterian Church of Traverse City Michigan
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Northwest Michigan Healthcare Services (NMHSI)
Grace Episcopal Church
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids
St. Philip Neri
Northern Lakes Community Church
Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints
Goodwill Inn
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Goodwill Street Outreach
Goodwill Housing Support
Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness
West Side Community Church
Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing (NMSH)
Faith Reformed Church
Munson Family Practice
Food Rescue of Northern Michigan
Bayview Church
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Traverse City Police Department
Munson Healthcare
Christ the King Catholic Church
GTC Health Department
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Central United Methodist Church
Sojourn Church
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse
New Hope Community Church
Traverse Health Clinic
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA)
Presbyterian Church of Traverse City Michigan
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Northwest Michigan Healthcare Services (NMHSI)
View More

See What We’re Up To

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    Thanks to a dedicated group of high school students at The Greenspire School, the shelter is cleaner and tidier! Once a month, about 8-10 students visit Safe Harbor for a few hours to help deep clean our sleeping area and kitchen, do yard work, wash windows, mop floors and more. (We also enjoy snacks together! 😁) We can't thank them enough — their hard work makes a big impact! Thank you, Greenspire students!

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    Last week was a joint effort with Sacred Heart and Christ the King, who brought great food, positive energy and some cute table gnomes. On Wednesday night, Christ the King-Knights of Columbus served a tasty chicken alfredo dinner. Thank you all for a fantastic week as we wind down from our regular season.

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