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. We operate from mid-October through April to keep those experiencing homelessness safe from the winter elements. 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.

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

See What We’re Up To

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    ‼️Emergency weather protocols in effect With wind chills expected to reach a low of -25 today, we have temporarily implemented our daylong winter weekend hours. This allows those who stayed at the shelter last night to remain indoors today. In addition, because Safe Harbor's 74-bed lodging is frequently at or over capacity, we're continuing to offer bus passes to Goodwill Northern Michigan, which recently activated its own hypothermic weather protocol called Code Blue—this allows Goodwill Inn to exceed its typical 126-bed capacity, 60 of which are reserved for families. Please stay safe, everyone. If you have questions, please contact the shelter at 231-944-0283.

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    Groceries for Good: January 15 When you round-up at the registers throughout January, your contributions go to Safe Harbor. Additionally, on January 15th, Oryana will donate 2% of sales to Safe Harbor.

    Our Newsletter