General Sources of Help

*If you are not homeless yet, it may be possible to avoid becoming homeless by finding out if there are any prevention or emergency assistance programs in your area.  Often these programs can help in paying rent, utilities, or bills.

If you are homeless now, emergency assistance programs may help with temporary shelter, or security deposits and/or first month's rent.

In the greater Grand Traverse region, contact the Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency at 231-947-3780 for prevention and emergency assistance programs. For shelter, contact the Goodwill Inn at 231-922-4890,the Women's Resource Center shelter at 231-946-1210, or the Salvation Army at 231-946-4644. Other resources can be found at the Website of the Northwest Michigan Information and Referral System, through the Michigan Assistance and Referral Service, or the Goodwill Inn's "Community Resource Guide Grand Traverse"

If you are a teenager and are thinking about running away from home, or if you are already living on the streets, call the Third Level Crisis Intervention Center and ask for Third Level Street Outreach Program (231-922-4800) or call the Rap Line at 1-800-292-4517. If you are not in the Traverse City area, call the National Runaway Switchboard. The Switchboard is a toll free, confidential hotline. The Switchboard staff will listen to you and help you think about what you need and want to do next. They also can tell you about people in your community who can help you. Other places to look for names and numbers of programs that may help are:

  1. On-line Directory of Statewide and Local Advocacy Coalitions This directory is maintained by the National Coalition for the Homeless and lists homeless and housing coalitions that are involved in advocacy. These coalitions vary greatly in the kind of advice and resources they can provide -- not all coalitions provide direct services, but many are excellent sources of information and referrals to programs near you. The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Website contains a directory of Michigan homeless and transitional housing providers.
  2. HUD's Homeless Assistance Resources Listing This is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's database of homeless assistance providers. If you are homeless and have health care needs, there may be a Health Care for the Homeless program near you that can help. Health Care for the Homeless programs also provide referrals for other services such as housing, so it may be useful to contact the program nearest you to see what services are available. Adapted from National Coalition for the Homeless Website.

 Support the Goodwill Inn

Phone 231-922-4890.  For directions to the Goodwill Inn, click here