Northwest Michigan’s plan to address homelessness has been long in the works, but now is facing pushback. The plan is to consolidate two large shelters into one 24/7/365 shelter to coordinate services, create more cost-efficient shelter operations and increase bed capacity.
The problem? Leaders in Garfield Township — where the combined shelter is supposed to be — have said they don’t want more services and that they can’t be forced to add them.
While Traverse City has a slew of homelessness services, Garfield Township is home to the largest homeless shelter in northern Michigan, the Goodwill Inn…