A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide

Hoarding support in Lake City, 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 Lake City or elsewhere in Missaukee 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 Lake City, Missaukee 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. Northern Lakes Community Mental Health provides 24-hour crisis support at 833-295-0616; call or text 988 for nationwide crisis support. If you are without housing or facing eviction, call Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency at 844-900-0500 or 211 and confirm the current housing-assessment route.

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.

Qualified public behavioral-health, developmental-disability, substance-use, peer, wellness, and care-navigation pathway - Missaukee County; assessment, eligibility, insurance, referral, and capacity rules apply

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority - Missaukee County

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health serves Missaukee County and identifies access services, serious mental-illness support, developmental-disability services, substance-use services, and crisis support. Call 800-492-5742 or 231-922-4850 for access; its 24-hour crisis line is 833-295-0616. This is not organizing or cleanup.

Local public-health, environmental-health, clinic, WIC, inspection, prevention, and community-safety pathway - Missaukee County; program, appointment, jurisdiction, and emergency limits apply

District Health Department #10 - Missaukee County

District Health Department #10's Missaukee County office is at 6180 West Sanborn Road, Suite 1, in Lake City. It lists public-health, environmental-health, WIC, clinic, permit, inspection, and complaint pathways. Call to ask which program fits a sanitation, waste, food, water, or health concern. It is not emergency response or whole-home cleanup.

Official county-government navigator for departments, building, EMS, housing, emergency management, courts, veterans services, and local administration - Missaukee County; department, jurisdiction, appointment, and service limits apply

Missaukee County Government

Missaukee County's official site is a starting point for current departments, building and permit information, emergency medical services, housing, planning and emergency management, courts, veterans affairs, public records, and local contacts. Use it to identify the right county pathway, then confirm current instructions.

Official municipal navigator for utilities, public works, zoning, ordinances, rentals, planning, fire, police, and local services - City of Lake City; city-limits, department, notice, and process rules apply

City of Lake City

The City of Lake City is the municipal starting point for city-limits concerns involving utilities, public works, zoning, ordinances, rentals, planning, and local services. City Hall is listed at 115 West John Street; ask which department and process apply before sharing sensitive details. It is not counseling, crisis response, housing placement, or private cleanup.

Nonprofit housing, homeless-prevention, home-energy, emergency-repair, food, family, financial-navigation, and benefits pathway - Missaukee County; program, income, document, funding, and capacity rules apply

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency serves Missaukee County with programs that include homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, supportive services for veterans, home-energy efficiency, emergency home repair, housing counseling, financial navigation, and food distribution. Call to describe the current barrier and ask which program fits. Assistance is not guaranteed.

Aging, homemaking, personal care, respite, home-chore, transportation, Medicare and Medicaid counseling, and information pathway - Missaukee County; age, assessment, fee, donation, and capacity rules vary

Missaukee County Commission on Aging

Missaukee County Commission on Aging offers in-home services, respite, home chore help, non-emergency medical transportation, and Medicare and Medicaid assistance. Its office is listed at 2170 South Morey Road in Lake City. Call to describe the need and confirm age, assessment, fees, notice, and availability. It is not emergency response or whole-home cleanup.

Local nonprofit emergency and long-term relief, utility, home-repair, transportation, thrift, household-goods, and community-support pathway - Lake City and surrounding communities; eligibility, funding, documents, and capacity rules vary

Friends Ministry C.C.D.O.

Friends Ministry is a Lake City nonprofit that describes emergency and longer-term relief for utility bills, car or home repairs, fuel, and necessary living expenses, along with discounted or vouchered clothing, housewares, and furniture through its thrift stores. Call before traveling to confirm the current program, documents, and available funding.

Local nonprofit food-distribution and emergency-relief pathway - Missaukee County; pantry schedule, household, supply, and eligibility rules apply

Community Hope

Community Hope is a Missaukee County nonprofit that provides food and emergency relief and funds partner food-distribution sites in McBain and Falmouth. Call the Lake City office at 231-253-4700 to confirm current pantry dates, locations, household rules, and available supply. It is not emergency medical care or shelter.

Local public-library, information, computer-access, technology, and community-navigation pathway - Lake City and Missaukee County; hours, program, privacy, and equipment rules apply

Ardis Missaukee District Library

The Missaukee District Library is listed at 210 South Canal Street in Lake City. A library can be a practical place to access the internet, print forms, find local information, and ask about current community programs. Call to confirm hours, computer availability, privacy considerations, and any appointment rules.

Free, confidential, 24/7 community-resource navigation - Michigan, including Lake City and Missaukee County; provider eligibility, hours, funding, and capacity vary

Michigan 211

Call 211 or search Michigan 211 for current housing, shelter, food, utilities, health care, transportation, benefits, and other local services. Ask for Missaukee County options and confirm details with each provider. A referral does not guarantee funding, an appointment, shelter, transportation, or placement, and 211 is not emergency dispatch.

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.

Immediate police, fire, or medical dispatch - Lake City and surrounding jurisdictions; use for fire, serious injury, violence, or an immediate threat

911 Emergency Services

Call 911 when there is immediate danger, fire, a medical emergency, violence, or a threat that cannot wait for a planned service. Emergency dispatch is not a hoarding-support program, counseling service, housing placement, or cleanup provider.

24/7 qualified behavioral-health crisis, safety-planning, access screening, and service-connection pathway - Missaukee County; crisis assessment, response, eligibility, and follow-up rules apply

Northern Lakes 24-Hour Crisis Line

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health lists 833-295-0616 for 24-hour crisis support in Missaukee County. Call for urgent behavioral-health concerns, safety planning, or help identifying an appropriate service. Call 911 for immediate physical danger; this is not cleanup or housing placement.

24/7 call, text, or chat crisis connection - Michigan and nationwide; not a substitute for 911 when immediate physical danger is present

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Michigan Crisis and Access Line

Call or text 988 for immediate emotional or behavioral-health crisis support and connection to local resources. Michigan's crisis system also routes calls originating in Michigan through the Michigan Crisis and Access Line. Use 911 for fire, serious injury, violence, or an immediate threat.

Protective-services reporting and assessment for suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults - Michigan, including Missaukee County; investigation and eligibility rules apply

Michigan Adult Protective Services

Michigan Adult Protective Services accepts reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Call 855-444-3911. APS is not a cleanup service, emergency medical response, or guaranteed housing placement; call 911 for immediate danger.

Official county preparedness, severe-weather, fire, flood, public-health, power-outage, and recovery pathway - Missaukee County; call 911 for emergencies and use county planning contacts for non-emergency coordination

Missaukee County Emergency Management and Planning

Missaukee County's emergency-management and planning resources cover hazards such as severe weather, fire, flooding, extreme temperatures, public-health emergencies, and power outages. Use the county's current emergency-management contacts for planning or non-emergency coordination; call 911 when immediate danger is present.

Local fire-prevention, fire-response, and life-safety pathway - Lake City area; call 911 for emergencies and use the office for non-emergency questions

Lake City Area Fire Department

Michigan's official fire-service directory lists Lake City Area Fire Department at 8105 West Kelly Road with a non-emergency office number of 231-839-7655. Call 911 for fire, smoke, medical emergency, or immediate danger; use the office contact for prevention or non-emergency questions.

Official local law-enforcement and non-emergency public-safety pathway - Missaukee County; call 911 for emergencies and confirm current non-emergency instructions

Missaukee County Sheriff and Central Dispatch

The City of Lake City's current contact page identifies the Missaukee County Sheriff's Department at 110 Pine Street in Lake City and lists 231-839-4338 as the office phone. Call 911 for immediate danger, fire, violence, or medical emergency; confirm the appropriate non-emergency route before relying on it.

Municipal utilities, public works, zoning, ordinance, rental, nuisance, and property-safety navigation - City of Lake City; city-limits, notice, correction, and appeal rules apply

City of Lake City Property, Utility, and Nuisance Pathway

For a concern within Lake City city limits, use the city contact and department routes for utilities, public works, zoning, ordinances, rentals, planning, and local complaints. Ask which jurisdiction and process apply before sharing sensitive details. This is not counseling, crisis response, housing placement, or private cleanup.

Local sanitation, environmental-health, food, wells, septic, inspection, and complaint pathway - Missaukee County; program, inspection, jurisdiction, and emergency limits apply

District Health Department #10 Environmental Health

DHD10 lists environmental-health permits, inspections, wells and septic, food-service information, and environmental-health complaint routes for Missaukee County. Call the Lake City office at 231-839-7167 to identify the correct current process. It is not private cleanup or emergency dispatch.

Local homelessness assessment, shelter, prevention, rapid-rehousing, and housing-stabilization pathway - Missaukee County; assessment, eligibility, funding, documentation, and capacity rules apply

NMCAA Housing Assessment and Resource Agency

Michigan's current HARA list identifies Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency as the Missaukee County housing-assessment agency. NMCAA lists 844-900-0500 for HARA intake. Call to confirm the current assessment, shelter, rent, utility, diversion, or rapid-rehousing route; assistance is not guaranteed.

State-funded route to local housing assessment, shelter, rental, and utility assistance - Michigan, including Missaukee County; local intake, eligibility, funding, and capacity rules apply

Michigan Housing Assessment and Shelter Pathway

Michigan's housing agency explains that local Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies connect people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with appropriate services. Call 211 or ask NMCAA to identify the current Missaukee County intake route. It is not emergency dispatch or a guaranteed placement.

Local prevention coalition and community-wellness resource navigator - Wexford and Missaukee counties; crisis responders, program eligibility, and service availability vary

T.R.U.S.T. Wexford-Missaukee

T.R.U.S.T. Wexford-Missaukee maintains local help and crisis-intervention resource pathways and directs people in crisis to trained professionals and emergency services. Use it to identify current local contacts, not as a substitute for 911 or a behavioral-health crisis line.

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.

Nonprofit housing counseling, homelessness prevention, rapid-rehousing, supportive services for veterans, and financial-navigation pathway - Missaukee County; assessment, income, document, funding, and capacity rules apply

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency - Housing and Homeless Prevention

NMCAA serves Missaukee County with housing counseling, homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, supportive services for veterans, budget coaching, foreclosure education, and other financial-navigation programs. Call 844-900-0500 to confirm the current program, eligibility, and documents. Assistance is not immediate or guaranteed.

Nonprofit home-energy, weatherization, and related health-and-safety improvement pathway - Missaukee County; income, home, inspection, document, and capacity rules apply

NMCAA Home Energy Efficiency Services

NMCAA lists home-energy efficiency services for its Missaukee County service area. Call to ask about current weatherization, energy-assistance, health-and-safety, and application routes and confirm income, ownership or rental, inspection, and waitlist rules. It is not same-day emergency repair or general cleanup.

Nonprofit emergency-home-repair and housing-safety pathway - Missaukee County; program, property, income, documentation, inspection, funding, and capacity rules apply

NMCAA Emergency Home Repair

NMCAA identifies emergency home repair among its Missaukee County programs. Call to ask whether the current repair or safety concern fits, what property and income rules apply, and whether the program has funding and capacity. This is not emergency dispatch or a general hoarding-cleanup service.

Homemaking, personal care, respite, home chore, medication, foot-care, and caregiver-support pathway - Missaukee County; age, assessment, fee, donation, and capacity rules apply

Missaukee County Commission on Aging In-Home Services

The Missaukee County Commission on Aging lists homemaking, personal care, respite, home chore help, medication setup, and other in-home supports. Call 231-839-7839 to ask what service fits, whether an assessment is needed, and whether fees, donations, waiting lists, or service limits apply. It is not emergency response or full-home cleanup.

Volunteer-supported non-emergency medical transportation pathway - Missaukee County; advance notice, rider, destination, mobility, and driver-availability rules apply

Missaukee County Commission on Aging Transportation

The Commission on Aging describes rides to non-emergency medical appointments and asks for at least 48 business hours' notice. Call 231-839-7839 to confirm the current service area, rider eligibility, mobility needs, and availability. Transportation is not emergency response.

Local nonprofit utility, fuel, car or home-repair, household-goods, thrift, and community-support pathway - Lake City and surrounding communities; eligibility, funding, documents, and capacity vary

Friends Ministry Emergency and Long-Term Relief

Friends Ministry describes crisis relief for overdue utility bills, fuel needed for work, car or home repairs, and other necessary living expenses, plus discounted or vouchered clothing, housewares, and furniture through its thrift stores. Call 231-839-8816 to confirm the current intake and funding limits.

Nonprofit partner-food-pantry and emergency-relief pathway - Missaukee County; locations, schedule, household, supply, and eligibility rules apply

Community Hope Food Distribution

Community Hope funds partner food distributions at Rehoboth Reformed Church in McBain and Prosper Christian Reformed Church in Falmouth. Call 231-253-4700 for current dates, locations, household rules, and supply before traveling. Food support is not shelter or emergency medical care.

Local food-pantry and basic-needs pathway - Lake City and Missaukee County; schedule, household, supply, residency, and eligibility rules require confirmation

Missaukee County Cooperative Ministry Food Pantry

District Health Department #10's current food-pantry guide lists Missaukee County Cooperative Ministry at the Sanborn Road site in Lake City. Review the current guide or call DHD10 to confirm the pantry's current address, hours, household rules, and available supply before traveling. Food support is not emergency medical care or shelter.

Local nonprofit food, household-assistance, and community-support pathway - Lake City and surrounding Wexford-Missaukee area; schedule, household, supply, and eligibility rules apply

Living Light Christian Church Family Life Center

The Family Life Center at Living Light Christian Church is identified in current regional resource materials as a Lake City-area food and assistance pathway. Call 231-839-2244 before traveling to confirm the current schedule, household rules, documents, and available supply. It is not emergency response or guaranteed assistance.

Official local food-pantry schedule and referral information - Missaukee County; schedules, supply, residency, household, and eligibility rules change and must be confirmed

DHD10 Food Pantry Directory

District Health Department #10 publishes a food-pantry guide with Missaukee County options and points residents to Michigan 211 for real-time food-assistance information. Use the guide to identify possible nearby pantries, then confirm current hours, location, household rules, and supply before traveling.

Public-library information, computer, internet, printing, and community-program pathway - Lake City; hours, equipment, privacy, and program rules apply

Ardis Missaukee District Library

The Missaukee District Library at 210 South Canal Street can help residents access online applications, print forms, search for local information, and ask about current community programs. Call 231-839-2166 to confirm hours, computer availability, printing, and privacy considerations.

County-based education, family, agriculture, 4-H, and community-program pathway - Lake City and Missaukee County; program, schedule, age, and capacity rules apply

MSU Extension - Missaukee County

Michigan State University Extension's Missaukee County office is listed at 6180 West Sanborn Road, Suite 2, in Lake City. It offers county-based education and community programs and can help residents identify appropriate current programming. Call to confirm the program, schedule, and eligibility.

County and municipal recycling, composting, solid-waste, and practical disposal-navigation pathway - Missaukee County and Lake City; materials, hours, residency, fees, and accepted-item rules apply

Missaukee County Recycling and Waste Pathway

Missaukee County and Lake City publish recycling, composting, and waste-management information for residents. Use the county or city contact route to confirm current drop-off locations, accepted materials, compost access, collection rules, and any fees before transporting items. This is not a promise of bulk removal or private cleanup.

State energy-assistance and weatherization pathway - Michigan, including Missaukee County; income, application window, documents, funding, and program rules apply

Michigan Energy Assistance and Weatherization

Michigan's energy and weatherization programs can connect eligible homeowners and renters with energy assistance and no-cost energy-conservation services through local operators. Review current requirements, apply through MI Bridges when appropriate, and call 211 for local referrals. These programs are not same-day emergency repair or general cleanup.

State food-assistance and benefits application pathway - Michigan, including Missaukee County; income, household, work-rule, documentation, and recertification rules apply

Michigan Food Assistance and MI Bridges

Michigan's Food Assistance Program and MI Bridges can help eligible households apply for food benefits and manage state assistance. Review current eligibility before applying, and ask 211, DHD10, or a local community partner for application support if needed. Benefits are not emergency food delivery or a crisis service.

Free self-help and civil-legal information pathway for eviction, housing conditions, leases, repairs, and tenant issues - Michigan, including Missaukee County; case, court, income, and representation limits apply

Michigan Legal Help - Housing Resources

Michigan Legal Help provides current self-help information about eviction, housing conditions, repairs, subsidized housing, leases, and related tenant issues. Use the site to understand possible options, then confirm deadlines and whether legal advice or representation is available for the specific case. It is not emergency response or a substitute for an attorney.

Statewide legal-aid and civil-legal referral search - Michigan, including Missaukee County; income, case type, conflict, geography, and capacity rules apply

Michigan State Bar Legal Aid Directory

The State Bar of Michigan's legal-aid page helps residents search for civil-legal assistance and referral options by county and service type. Use it to ask about housing, benefits, guardianship, consumer, or other civil issues, then confirm whether a current provider serves Missaukee County and whether the case qualifies. It is not emergency response or legal representation by itself.

State veterans-benefits, discharge-document, Veteran Service Officer, employment, and family-support pathway - Michigan, including Missaukee County; veteran or family eligibility and program rules apply

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency helps veterans and their families connect with benefits, discharge documents, Veteran Service Officers, employment, and other services. Call 1-800-642-4838 or use its resource-assistance route to confirm the current local connection. For a crisis, call 988 and press 1; this is not emergency housing or cleanup.

Private-pay hoarding and clutter support pathway for individuals, families, and practical assistance; scope, fees, scheduling, and service availability require confirmation

The Peer Tree

The Peer Tree is the private-pay pathway for hoarding and clutter support when a situation is outside grant-funded services or calls for ongoing practical help. Ask about current support groups, sorting or organizing assistance, decluttering, deep cleaning, or support for friends and family. This is not emergency response, therapy, housing placement, or a promise that a particular service is available in Missaukee County.

Digital peer-support pathway for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns and friends or family supporters - online; current account, feature, group, cost, and availability terms apply; not therapy or emergency support

Unburied

Unburied, owned by The Peer Tree, offers a judgment-free digital pathway with peer support, structured tools, groups, and separate personal and supporter experiences. It can be used from Lake City or elsewhere, but it is not therapy, clinical care, crisis response, emergency service, housing placement, or cleanup.

Qualified-care, organizer, taskforce, and support search - national directory with Michigan and telehealth options; listings are not endorsements and credentials, cost, insurance, waitlist, and service-area rules vary

IOCDF Hoarding Resource Directory

The International OCD Foundation directory can be searched for clinicians, programs, support groups, organizers, and taskforces that identify hoarding-related experience. Providers submit their information and IOCDF does not endorse their competence. Verify credentials, fees, insurance, privacy, availability, and whether in-home or telehealth work fits. This is not emergency response.

A note from the Alliance

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

This guide is anchored in Lake City, 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