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.

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

See What We’re Up To

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    What an incredible week at Safe Harbor. We successfully navigated a record snow storm, extended our hours to ensure guest safety, and shoveled snow for days with the assistance of volunteers and guests. Despite these challenges, we are deeply grateful for the support of West Side Community Church. They braved the weather, generously provided delicious food and served our guests with exceptional kindness. Thank you for your outstanding support this week.

  • Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

    Did you know that Safe Harbor guests are able to take care of their health and well-being more consistently thanks to a newer medical program offered at the shelter? Each Tuesday evening, Traverse Health Clinic Mobile Medical Unit and TC Street Medicine assist shelter guests. “It has been such a wonderful addition to the shelter, and we’ve really seen it be utilized fully every week, which is just fantastic,” said Jenny Wallman, staff and guest manager. For Bre Sika, outreach care coordinator for Traverse Health Clinic, connecting with shelter guests “is the favorite time of my day.” “They know we are going to be there — it’s a constant in their life,” Sika said. “Some days I joke I am a local celebrity when I am there because so many people are giving me a high five and hugs … It’s helping encourage people to start loving themselves enough to start caring for themselves.” We featured a story about this weekly shelter service in a recent Safe Harbor newsletter. If you're not yet receiving our newsletter — the next one goes out mid-April! — we'd love for you to sign up here: https://www.gtsafeharbor.org/about-us/monthly-newsletter.html

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