A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide

Hoarding support in Houghton, Michigan.

A respectful place to begin, whether you are looking for support for yourself, worried about someone you love, or trying to respond to a safety, housing, health, or practical concern in Houghton or elsewhere in Houghton County.

People first.Then the stuff.A Fight the Blight initiative

Start here - Fight the Blight

You do not have to solve the whole situation before asking for help.

Our virtual groups give people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns a place to connect from Houghton, Houghton County, and nearby communities. We can help you think through what is happening and what kind of next step may fit.

For immediate danger

Call 911 for a medical emergency, fire, violence, or immediate threat. Copper Country Community Mental Health provides 24-hour crisis support at 800-526-5059; call or text 988 for nationwide crisis support. Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home provides a 24-hour domestic-violence crisis line at 906-337-5623 or 888-337-5623. If you are without housing or facing eviction, call Michigan 211, GOCAA, or the local housing-assessment pathway and ask about current Houghton County options.

First conversations

A few good places to start

You do not need to know the perfect service name before reaching out. These organizations can help you understand the landscape and identify a next step.

Private-pay hoarding support, organizing help, groups, and family guidance - broader service area; scope, cost, scheduling, travel, consent, safety, and capacity rules apply; not emergency care

The Peer Tree

The Peer Tree is the private-pay pathway for organizing help, decluttering support, groups, family guidance, and practical next steps when a grant or public program is not the right fit. Ask about scope, cost, travel, consent, safety, and whether support is available in Houghton or Houghton County.

Digital peer-support pathway for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns - online; no cost or eligibility claim verified; not therapy or emergency support

Unburied

Unburied, from The Peer Tree, offers a judgment-free digital pathway with peer support, groups, and tools for people directly affected and for friends or family supporters. It is not therapy, a crisis service, or a substitute for emergency help.

Official county-government navigator for offices, courts, records, public notices, and local administration - Houghton County; office, appointment, jurisdiction, and service rules apply

Houghton County Government

Houghton County's current contact directory lists the county courthouse at 401 East Houghton Avenue in Houghton and routes residents to county offices, courts, public safety, housing-related departments, and other services. Use it as a government starting point, not as emergency response or hoarding cleanup.

Official city-government contact for administration, utilities, trash, building, rental inspections, public transit, police, fire, and local services - Houghton; city jurisdiction, hours, fees, and department rules apply; not emergency response

City of Houghton

The City of Houghton provides a local starting point for city administration, utility and trash questions, building and rental-inspection information, public transit, police, fire, and community support. City offices are at 616 Shelden Avenue; confirm current department instructions before visiting.

Qualified public behavioral-health, crisis, care-navigation, and community-support pathway - Houghton County and the Copper Country region; eligibility, assessment, residency, and capacity rules apply

Copper Country Community Mental Health

Copper Country Community Mental Health serves eligible people in Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties with behavioral-health and community supports. Request services at 1-877-906-2264 or 906-483-5555; the 24-hour emergency line is 800-526-5059. This is clinical and crisis care, not hoarding cleanup.

Local public-health, environmental-health, sanitation, prevention, and community-safety pathway - Houghton County and the western Upper Peninsula; program, appointment, payment, jurisdiction, and emergency limits apply

Western Upper Peninsula Health Department

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department publishes public-health and environmental-health contacts for Houghton County and the surrounding region. Call 906-482-7382 to confirm the current program and appointment route; this is not emergency response or cleanup.

Qualified regional hospital and emergency-care pathway near Houghton - Hancock; medical, insurance, payment, referral, and capacity rules apply; call 911 for immediate danger

UP Health System - Portage

UP Health System lists Portage Emergency Room at 500 Campus Drive in Hancock and Portage Express Care in Houghton for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Call 906-483-1000 for hospital information, 906-483-1777 for Houghton Express Care, or 911 for an emergency.

Nonprofit domestic-violence, shelter, advocacy, and safety-planning pathway serving Houghton County; confidential service, eligibility, location, and capacity rules apply; not general emergency response

Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home

Michigan's current victim-services directory lists Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home as a nonprofit serving Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties with victim services and shelter or housing support. Its 24-hour line is 906-337-5623 or 888-337-5623.

Nonprofit sexual-assault, child-abuse, victim-services, and crisis-support pathway serving Houghton County; confidential service, eligibility, and capacity rules apply; not 911

Copper Shores Community Support & Outreach

Michigan's current directory identifies Copper Shores Community Support & Outreach, formerly Dial Help, as serving Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties with sexual-assault, SANE, children's advocacy, and victim services. Call 906-482-9077 or the 24-hour crisis line at 800-562-7622; text 906-356-3337.

Official state and county human-services navigator for benefits, protective services, and public assistance - Houghton County; eligibility, appointment, confidentiality, and program rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Department of Health and Human Services

The Houghton County Department of Health and Human Services office serves as a local route for public assistance, family support, and human-services questions. The current county directory lists 906-482-0500; confirm office instructions before sharing sensitive details and use 911 for immediate danger.

City-operated fixed-route and on-demand transportation pathway - Houghton; schedule, fare, service-area, accessibility, and non-emergency limits apply; not emergency transport

Houghton Public Transit

The City of Houghton operates regular-route and on-demand public transit. The current city transportation page lists 906-482-6092 for rides and publishes fares and service limits; call before an appointment to confirm the current route and accessibility options.

Statewide nonprofit information-and-referral navigator for housing, food, utilities, health, transportation, and human services - Michigan; current availability, eligibility, and provider limits apply; not emergency response

Michigan 211

Michigan 211 can help identify current local options for food, housing, utilities, health care, transportation, employment, and other human services. Call 211 or use the current online directory; call 911 for an emergency.

Safety and stability

When the concern involves safety, housing, or crisis

These pathways serve different situations. Read the labels carefully before calling, especially when a response may involve crisis care, protective services, shelter, housing rules, legal advocacy, or emergency dispatch.

Emergency dispatch for immediate medical danger, fire, violence, or threats to life or safety - Houghton and Houghton County; emergency use only; not a hoarding-support referral line

911

Call 911 when someone is in immediate danger, there is a fire or medical emergency, violence, or a life-safety threat. Tell the dispatcher the location, immediate hazard, and any access or mobility issue responders should know.

County law-enforcement and public-safety pathway - Houghton County; emergency dispatch, jurisdiction, and non-emergency rules apply; not a cleanup service

Houghton County Sheriff's Office

The Houghton County Sheriff's Office lists its office at 403 East Houghton Avenue in Houghton. Call 911 for an emergency; the office number is 906-482-0055 and the current non-emergency number listed by the sheriff is 906-337-2211.

Local city law-enforcement and public-safety pathway - Houghton; city jurisdiction, emergency dispatch, and non-emergency rules apply; not a cleanup or behavioral-health service

Houghton City Police

The City of Houghton lists police and parking enforcement among its city services. Call 911 for an emergency; use the current city police contact for a non-emergency report or safety question within city jurisdiction.

Local fire-protection and fire-safety pathway - City of Houghton; emergency dispatch and department response rules apply; not general cleanup or behavioral-health care

Houghton Fire Department

The City of Houghton Fire Department lists 906-482-0009 as its non-emergency number and provides fire-protection coverage in Houghton, including Michigan Tech property. Call 911 for fire, smoke, rescue, or an immediate hazard.

24-hour qualified mental-health crisis, risk-assessment, safety-planning, and referral pathway - Houghton County and the Copper Country region; crisis scope and clinical eligibility rules apply; call 911 for immediate physical danger

Copper Country Community Mental Health Crisis Services

Copper Country Community Mental Health publishes a 24-hour emergency line at 800-526-5059 for the counties it serves, including Houghton. Call or text 988 for nationwide crisis support; call 911 for immediate physical danger.

Nationwide call, text, and chat crisis pathway for suicide, mental-health, and emotional distress - United States; crisis-support scope applies; not emergency dispatch or hoarding care

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Use 911 for immediate physical danger, fire, medical emergency, or violence. 988 is not therapy, cleanup, or a substitute for emergency response.

State protective-services reporting pathway for suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult - Michigan; intake, investigation, confidentiality, and jurisdiction rules apply; not a general cleanup service

Michigan Adult Protective Services

Michigan Adult Protective Services accepts reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation through its statewide hotline at 855-444-3911 at any time. Use 911 when the person faces immediate danger.

Confidential nonprofit domestic-violence, shelter, advocacy, and safety-planning crisis pathway - Houghton County and nearby counties; survivor-service scope and capacity rules apply; not 911

Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home 24-hour line

Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home serves Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. Call 906-337-5623 or 888-337-5623 for confidential domestic-violence support, shelter, and safety planning; call 911 for immediate danger.

Confidential nonprofit sexual-assault, child-abuse, victim-services, and crisis pathway - Houghton County and the Copper Country region; advocate availability and service limits apply; not 911

Copper Shores 24-hour crisis support

Michigan's current Houghton County directory lists Copper Shores Community Support & Outreach crisis contacts: call 800-562-7622 or 906-482-HELP, or text 906-356-3337. Use 911 for immediate danger.

Official statewide victim-services hotline for sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking - Michigan; confidential-service and crisis limits apply; not emergency dispatch

Statewide VOICES4 Hotline

Michigan lists the VOICES4 hotline as a statewide victim-services pathway. Call 855-864-2374 or text 866-238-1454 for support related to sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking; call 911 for immediate danger.

Official victim-services directory for domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and prosecutor advocacy - Houghton County; service, confidentiality, and eligibility rules apply; not 911

Michigan Crime Victim Services - Houghton County

Michigan's Houghton County directory identifies Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, Copper Shores, and the Houghton County Prosecutor's Office as current victim-service pathways. Use the directory to confirm service scope and contact details; call 911 for immediate danger.

Government prosecutor-based victim-advocacy pathway - Houghton County; legal jurisdiction, confidentiality, filing, and appointment rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Prosecutor's Office

Michigan's current victim-services directory lists the Houghton County Prosecutor's Office for prosecutor-based advocacy in Houghton County. Call 906-482-3214 for current instructions and call 911 if immediate danger is present.

Official state human-services navigator for benefits, protective services, and public assistance - Houghton County; eligibility, appointment, confidentiality, and program rules apply; not emergency response

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services - Houghton County

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services lists Houghton County as a local human-services route. Confirm the current office and intake instructions before sharing sensitive details; use 911 for immediate danger and the APS hotline for suspected adult abuse or neglect.

Qualified regional emergency-care pathway near Houghton - Hancock; emergency screening, stabilization, insurance, payment, and capacity rules apply; call 911 when danger is immediate

UP Health System - Portage Emergency Room

UP Health System lists the Portage Emergency Room at 500 Campus Drive in Hancock, near Houghton. Call 906-483-1000 for hospital information; call 911 for an immediate medical emergency or threat to life.

Confidential culturally appropriate domestic-, dating-, and sexual-violence support for Native Americans - United States; advocate availability, privacy, and emergency limits apply; not 911

StrongHearts Native Helpline

StrongHearts Native Helpline offers confidential culturally appropriate support by phone, text, and chat for Native American survivors and concerned helpers. Call 1-844-762-8483; use 911 for immediate danger.

People and practical help

Housing, food, care, transportation, and ongoing support

These listings connect the local community with housing, food, behavioral health, benefits, transit, survivor advocacy, disability support, peer support, and practical resources. Ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.

Official city administration, clerk, treasurer, assessor, council, licensing, and local-service navigator - Houghton; city jurisdiction, office hours, and department rules apply; not emergency response

City of Houghton Administration

The City of Houghton office at 616 Shelden Avenue is a local starting point for administration, elections, licensing, public meetings, property questions, and routing to the right department. Confirm current hours and service instructions before visiting.

Official water, sewer, trash, recycling, utility-billing, and property-service pathway - Houghton; account, rate, service, and jurisdiction rules apply; after-hours hazards belong to 911

City of Houghton Utilities, Trash, and Recycling

The City of Houghton publishes current water, sewer, utility billing, trash, recycling, and service-transfer information. Contact the city for account or service instructions; call 911 for an active fire, gas, electrical, or immediate safety emergency.

Official building, demolition, permit, rental-safety, and property-inspection pathway - Houghton County; property, permit, inspection, fee, and jurisdiction rules apply; not emergency response or cleanup

Houghton County Building Department

Houghton County's Building Department issues building and demolition permits and is the county route for building questions associated with city zoning and rental inspections. The current county directory lists 906-482-2260; contact the department before making a repair or demolition decision.

Official county-office directory for clerk, courts, records, prosecutor, sheriff, health and human services, roads, veterans, and public administration - Houghton County; office, appointment, and jurisdiction rules apply

Houghton County Offices

Houghton County's current contact directory lists its courthouse at 401 East Houghton Avenue and publishes department contacts and hours. Use the directory to identify the right office rather than sharing personal information with an unrelated department.

Official county records, elections, property, deed, and document pathway - Houghton County; identity, document, fee, appointment, and jurisdiction rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Clerk and Register of Deeds

The county contact directory routes residents to the Clerk's Office and Register of Deeds for elections, records, property documents, and county administration. Confirm the current office instructions and fees before sharing identifying information.

Official property-tax, assessment, equalization, and county-finance pathway - Houghton County; account, identity, fee, tax-sale, and jurisdiction rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Treasurer and Equalization

Houghton County lists the Treasurer's Office at 906-482-0560 and Equalization Department at 906-482-0250. Use these offices for property-tax or assessment questions and confirm the right department before sharing financial details.

Official circuit, district, probate, family, and prosecutor pathway - Houghton County courthouse; legal jurisdiction, filing, appointment, and confidentiality rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Courts and Prosecutor

Houghton County publishes contacts for the 12th Circuit Court, 97th District Court, Probate and Family Court, Friend of the Court, and Prosecuting Attorney. Use the current county directory to confirm the right court and filing instructions; it is not legal advice.

County law-enforcement, report, and public-safety contact - Houghton County; jurisdiction and non-emergency rules apply; not a cleanup or behavioral-health service

Houghton County Sheriff's Office - Non-emergency

For a report or safety question that is not in progress, the Houghton County Sheriff's Office lists 906-337-2211 as its non-emergency number and 906-482-0055 as its office number. Call 911 for an emergency or immediate threat.

City-operated fixed-route and demand-response transportation pathway - Houghton; schedule, fare, service-area, accessibility, and non-emergency limits apply; not emergency transport

Houghton Public Transit

Houghton Public Transit publishes regular routes and on-demand rides, including the current 906-482-6092 ride-arrangement number. Ask about fares, city limits, mobility accommodations, and a ride to an appointment before traveling.

Qualified public residential and community-support pathway for eligible adults with mental illness or developmental disabilities - Houghton, Baraga, and Ontonagon counties; assessment, plan-of-service, eligibility, and capacity rules apply; not emergency housing

Copper Country Community Mental Health Residential Services

Copper Country Mental Health describes licensed adult foster-care group homes and community supports in Houghton, Baraga, and Ontonagon counties. A supports coordinator or case manager helps determine eligibility and arrange a visit; call 906-482-9400 for current program information.

Qualified care-navigation and community-resource pathway for eligible Houghton County residents with chronic-care or high emergency-use needs; referral and clinical eligibility rules apply; not emergency response

UP Health System Community Health Worker Program

UP Health System describes a free Community Health Worker program for qualified Houghton or Marquette County residents who meet its clinical and utilization criteria. Community health workers can connect people with primary care and local resources; ask a provider or social worker about referral.

Official state housing and Housing Choice Voucher navigator - Michigan, including Houghton County; income, waitlist, county, voucher, and landlord rules apply; not emergency shelter

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

MSHDA publishes Housing Choice Voucher, Michigan Housing Locator, and homelessness-resource information. Confirm current waitlist status and eligibility directly, and ask Michigan 211 or local housing programs about immediate Houghton County options.

Nonprofit legal-information and self-help pathway for housing, debt, family, court, and other civil matters - Michigan; income, issue, court, and attorney-availability rules apply; not emergency response

Michigan Legal Help

Michigan Legal Help provides legal information, forms, and referral tools for civil matters. Use it to understand possible options and ask whether an eligible person can obtain advice; it is not a substitute for a retained attorney or emergency response.

Regional aging, disability, caregiver, meals, transportation, home-support, and Medicare-navigation pathway - Upper Peninsula; age, disability, program, assessment, and funding rules apply; not emergency response

UPCAP Michigan Options

UPCAP and the Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers identify local supports such as meals, transportation, home modifications, and Medicare counseling. Call 800-338-7227 or 906-786-4701 to confirm current Houghton County options.

Nonprofit companionship, food assistance, medical transportation, and aging-support pathway serving the western Upper Peninsula; program, age, location, scheduling, and capacity rules apply; not emergency response

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Michigan

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Michigan publishes programs including food assistance and medical transportation for communities across the western Upper Peninsula, including Houghton County. Contact the nonprofit to confirm current eligibility, service area, and scheduling.

Statewide nonprofit referral pathway for current local housing, food, utility, health, and transportation options - Michigan; provider eligibility, availability, and capacity rules apply; not emergency response

Michigan 211 Housing, Food, and Utility Referrals

Michigan 211 can help narrow the current local options when a household is unsure which agency serves Houghton County. Call 211 or search online, and confirm the provider's current eligibility and hours before traveling.

Public-health, sanitation, and environmental-health pathway for Houghton County and the western Upper Peninsula; inspection, program, jurisdiction, appointment, and emergency limits apply; not emergency response

Western UP Health Department - Environmental Health

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department is the regional route for public-health and environmental-health questions. Call 906-482-7382 to identify the current Houghton County contact for a sanitation or health concern; call 911 for an immediate life-safety emergency.

Public library, information, computer, digital-resource, and community-access pathway - Houghton and Portage Township; card, hours, technology, and program rules apply; not emergency response or clinical care

Portage Lake District Library

Portage Lake District Library serves the City of Houghton and Portage Township with books, audiobooks, magazines, electronic resources, Libby, MeL, and community programs. Call 906-482-4570 to confirm current hours and services.

County veteran-service officer and benefits-navigation pathway - Houghton County; veteran eligibility, appointment, documentation, and program rules apply; not emergency response

Houghton County Veteran Service Office

The Houghton County Veteran Service Office connects eligible veterans, survivors, and dependents with federal, state, and local benefits. The office lists 906-482-0102 and appointment or walk-in hours; use 988 or 911 for a crisis or emergency.

Public workforce, employment, training, and job-navigation pathway - Houghton and Keweenaw counties; program, eligibility, appointment, transportation, and employer rules apply; not emergency response

Michigan Works!

Michigan Works! helps people connect with employment, career, and training resources. Use the state workforce directory or current regional office information to confirm the Houghton County location, eligibility, and appointment process.

A note from the Alliance

Start with the person. Then decide what the situation needs.

This guide is anchored in Houghton, Michigan, and includes city, county, state, nonprofit, national, and independent pathways. A listing here does not mean Fight the Blight endorses every provider or can guarantee availability. The Hoarding Alliance is not a city or county agency, therapy practice, emergency service, or cleanup company. We will keep reviewing this page, but please confirm details directly before relying on them.

Need help choosing a path? Contact Fight the Blight