GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Around 250 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the Greater Grand Traverse Area. That's according to the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness.
While those 250 people have a safe place to sleep at night in the winter at Safe Harbor, they don't necessarily have a safe space to spend the day.
The Traverse City community is working together to change that.
Right now, Safe Harbor shelter in Traverse City is open from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. in the winter. But, there's no consistent place for people experiencing homelessness to go during those 10 hours before being allowed back into the shelter.
That's why Safe Harbor is pushing to allow the shelter to stay open during the day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The idea is being supported by many partners in the community, including the Traverse City Police Department.
"This is not a fix," TCPD Captain Keith Gillis said, "This is not going to stop all the problems, but it's a step in the right direction.
Captain Gillis said when people experiencing homelessness don't have a place to go during the day, that can cause problems.
"We're getting these calls because the library, the neighborhood, Hull Park, all these areas around Safe Harbor were getting inundated with complaints, calls for service, during the time frames when Safe Harbor was not open," Captain Gillis said.
Captain Gillis said having a place for people experiencing homelessness to go during the day could help solve this issue.
"It's a change to better the neighborhood and the quality of life for the people in that neighborhood, and also the homeless," Captain Gillis said.
According to the proposal, Jubilee House would stay open later in the afternoon during the week, from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and Central Methodist Church would continue serving breakfast from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. during the week.
If Safe Harbor can be open 24 hours on the weekends, that would essentially create a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to go 24/7 in the winter.
"If we know where they're at, then we have the option to help them," Captain Gillis said.
Captain Gillis says the plan also includes TCPD hiring a social worker and assigning a community police officer to the North Boardman neighborhood.
Safe Harbor has to amend its special land use permit in order to offer daytime services.
The City Commission is expected to vote on that request at its next regular meeting.
If the request gets approved, a six-month pilot to operate during the day will start in October.