Safe Harbor's Year in Review

June 8, 2026

This week’s Northern Express — sister publication of The Ticker — checked in with Safe Harbor, the Traverse City emergency shelter that transitioned from a seasonal space to year-round last spring. The shift was prompted by an urgent need paired with enforcement of the city’s no-camping ordinance at The Pines, the wooded encampment that had become home to many unhoused residents.

Officially though a full year cycle, Safe Harbor says the move has brought many successes and some unexpected lessons. As they head into the second year of a two-year pilot, they’re looking to continue to expand their services to not only offer shelter for the unhoused at Safe Harbor, but also more resources for their guests to help get them back on their feet and ensure long-term stability. Read more here.

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