Traverse City’s housing shortage has impacted not only renters and homeowners, but residents experiencing homelessness as well. From a proposal to turn a city warehouse into an emergency shelter to the opening of a new Goodwill apartment complex to a supportive housing campaign spearheaded by a former city mayor, The Ticker looks at three projects aimed at serving the community’s homeless.

Safe Harbor Shelter
Traverse City commissioners will consider a $50,000 offer tonight (Monday) from Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse to purchase a city-owned warehouse at 517 Wellington Street for use as an emergency homeless shelter.

After city staff's nearly six-month review of the offer terms, City Manager Marty Colburn is recommending commissioners approve the sale tonight, a move that will require five affirmative votes. The agreement calls for Safe Harbor to have an emergency shelter up and running at the site within two years, and to provide community services for a minimum of 10 years. If the organization fails to meet either of those terms or uses the building for purposes other than an emergency shelter, the property will revert back to the city.

The sale also includes a parcel next to the warehouse used by the city for snow and boat storage. The city will continue to have free access to use the site, Colburn says – though the agreement leaves the door open for Safe Harbor to eventually expand its operations onto that parcel. “Trying to look at the long view, there could be an opportunity for continued evolution of housing to meet those needs and help people work their way out of homelessness,” says Colburn. “But we need to let them (Safe Harbor) get on their feet first.”

City commissioners meet at 7pm tonight at the Governmental Center.

Goodwill’s Carson Square
Goodwill Northern Michigan will host a ribbon cutting Friday (April 8) to celebrate the grand opening of Carson Square, a 36-unit apartment complex on Carson Street just north of South Airport Road.

The 100 percent permanent supportive housing development features 16 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom apartments "for families and individuals who have faced homelessness and for survivors of domestic violence and assault,” according to Goodwill Marketing and Communications Manager Kristen Talaga.

“Since the notion of affordability is relative to one’s income, the rent for each tenant will be 30 percent of his/her net income, which is dependent on the unique circumstance of each individual,” says Talaga. The remaining costs for the development are covered by state and federal funding.

Tenants will have lease agreements and be required to follow apartment complex rules, similar to any other rental, according to Talaga. A team of Goodwill case managers will also work with tenants to make sure they pay rent and participate in required supportive services “to address any personal barriers” standing in the way of independent living. The ultimate goal of Carson Square: to “offer a conducive opportunity for residents to not only live together, but learn from one another to potentially overcome obstacles that may have caused homelessness in their own personal lives,” Talaga says.

One Hundred Thousand For Housing
A fundraising campaign spearheaded by former Traverse City Mayor Michael Estes and his wife Rhonda could help provide permanent supportive housing for eight individuals/families experiencing homelessness.

The Esteses have partnered with Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing (NMSH) in the “One Hundred Thousand for Housing” challenge to raise $100,000 for NMSH to expand its services. The couple has pledged to match all new gifts of $2,500 or more to NMSH now through July 1, up to a total of $50,000.

NMSH currently provides supportive housing for 65 households – or 120 individuals – facing both homelessness and mental illness at apartments scattered throughout city neighborhoods, a model designed to encourage residents’ reintegration into the community. As with Goodwill’s Carson Square, tenants pay 30 percent of their income toward rent and participate in supportive services and life-skills training.

According to NMSH Executive Director Emma Moyer, it costs roughly $12,000 per year to fund an apartment. Government grants cover 75 percent of those costs, but the remaining 25 percent is paid out of pocket by NMSH. Moyer hopes the pledge offer from the Estes will attract enough new donors that the organization can provide eight more such apartments in Traverse City.

“It’s getting people off the streets, meeting their needs and increasing their likelihood of independent living,” Moyer says of the program. To donate, contact Moyer at 231-929-1309 or emma.nmsh@gmail.com.

Pictured above (clockwise): Proposed site of Safe Harbor's shelter; NMSH project Bay Front Apartments; Carson Square.