A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide
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, care, or practical concern in Arenac County.
Start here - Fight the Blight
Our virtual groups give people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns a place to connect from Standish, Arenac County, and other communities. We can help you think through what is happening and what kind of next step may fit.
Call 911 for a medical emergency, fire, violence, or immediate threat. For behavioral-health crisis support, call Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health at 989-895-2300 or 800-327-4693, or call or text 988. For housing or resource navigation, contact Arenac County Housing, Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, Michigan 211, or Michigan's housing and benefits portals.
First conversations
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.
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 Standish or Arenac County.
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.
Safety and stability
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.
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.
The Arenac County Sheriff's Office lists its office at 126 Grove Street in Standish and routine phone 989-846-3002. Use the non-emergency pathway for routine questions and call 911 when an immediate threat is present.
Arenac County identifies Central Dispatch at 126 North Grove Street in Standish and lists 989-846-4561 for routine dispatch information. Call 911 for an active emergency rather than waiting for a routine response.
Michigan's official fire-service directory can help identify the current fire agency serving an address. Call 911 for fire, smoke, blocked egress, or a medical emergency rather than waiting for a routine directory response.
Arenac County emergency-management information supports preparedness and incident planning for residents and local agencies. Use it for planning and current public notices, not emergency dispatch.
Michigan's Arenac County behavioral-health listing identifies Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health and its 24-hour crisis lines at 989-895-2300 and 800-327-4693. Call for urgent behavioral-health support; call 911 for a medical or physical-safety emergency.
Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health is the community mental-health pathway serving Arenac County. Ask about current access, eligibility, and program options; use the crisis line or 911 when the situation is urgent.
Call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support, or use the online chat option. 988 is not a hoarding-specific service and does not replace 911 when someone is in immediate danger.
The Central Michigan District Health Department lists its Arenac location at 583 East Cedar Street, Suite 100, in Standish, with phone 989-846-6541. Confirm current services, hours, and program requirements before visiting.
Current Michigan and Arenac County sources identify MyMichigan Medical Center Standish at 805 West Cedar Street. Use emergency services for urgent medical needs and confirm current departments, hours, access, and coverage directly with the facility.
Michigan protective services can receive concerns involving possible abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult or child. Use the state's current reporting information and call 855-444-3911 for the 24/7 abuse-and-neglect reporting line; call 911 when immediate safety is at risk.
Michigan's State Emergency Relief program may help eligible households facing certain emergency needs. Apply or ask about current eligibility through Michigan assistance channels; do not assume approval or immediate payment.
Arenac County's building department connects residents with permits, inspections, and code questions. Call 989-846-9791 or confirm the current inspector and process before beginning repair, alteration, or demolition work.
The City of Standish publishes local ordinances, including property and anti-blight rules. Review the current ordinance and contact the city before assuming that a notice, repair, cleanup, or property action follows a particular process.
The Arenac County Road Commission lists its office at 4271 Airpark Drive and phone 989-718-3250. Use it for routine county-road, access, and right-of-way questions; call 911 for an active life-safety emergency.
Arenac County Veterans Affairs lists 989-846-9080 as its contact and provides veteran-benefits and service-navigation information. Confirm current office hours, eligibility, and documentation needs before visiting.
Michigan EGLE explains how to handle household hazardous waste and directs residents to local disposal information. Confirm Arenac County collection dates, accepted materials, and preparation rules before transport.
Contact MISS DIG 811 before digging or disturbing soil so underground utilities can be marked. This supports safer repair and property work but is not emergency response.
Michigan 211 can help identify current local housing, food, utility, transportation, and support resources. Ask for Arenac County options and confirm details with each provider.
People and practical help
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.
Arenac County Housing lists home-improvement, well, and MSHDA property-improvement information. The department lists 989-846-6651; ask about current applications, funding, waitlists, and eligibility.
Michigan's current HARA list identifies Mid Michigan Community Action Agency as the Housing Assessment and Resource Agency for Arenac County. The statewide listing gives 877-213-5955 and directs households to confirm current intake, eligibility, and available housing-stability programs.
MSHDA explains how local Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies and other partners connect Michigan residents with housing assistance. Use the state information to identify the correct local pathway and confirm current availability.
Michigan Housing Locator is a statewide search tool for rental and affordable-housing listings. Listings can change quickly; verify availability, accessibility, application requirements, and costs with the property or program.
MSHDA's 811 information describes project-based rental assistance for eligible households with disabilities. Confirm current properties, referral requirements, and waitlists before relying on the program for a housing plan.
Arenac Public Transit Authority lists its office at 200 Smalley Street in Twining and phone 989-846-7500. The agency lists service hours of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and asks riders to call about out-of-county medical transportation. Confirm reservations, accessibility, and current fares before travel.
The Iosco-Arenac District Library lists Mary Johnston Memorial Library at 105 North Street in Standish with phone 989-846-6611. Confirm current hours, library-card rules, technology access, and community programs before visiting.
The Central Michigan District Health Department serves Arenac County and describes public-health, environmental-health, prevention, and community programs. Use the current location and program pages to confirm local availability and requirements.
Sterling Area Health Center describes community health services for Arenac-area residents, including primary care and care-navigation options. Confirm current locations, hours, sliding-fee details, and appointment requirements directly with the health center.
Arenac County lists MSU Extension and 4-H among its community resources. Use the current county or MSU Extension pages to confirm local programs, contacts, and event requirements.
The City of Standish provides current public notices, departments, forms, ordinances, utility information, and community contacts. Confirm current office hours and service requirements before relying on a city process.
The City of Standish clerk's office handles city administrative, tax, water, cemetery, and utility questions. The city lists 399 East Beaver Street and 989-846-9588; confirm current office hours and payment options.
The official county site connects residents with the Clerk, Treasurer, Equalization, Building Code, Health Department, Emergency Services, Veterans, Roads, courts, transportation, housing, recycling, and other county services. Use current office pages to confirm contacts and hours.
Arenac County planning information connects residents with land-use, zoning, and planning processes. Confirm the correct contact and current application or hearing requirements before beginning property work or seeking a land-use change.
Arenac County Equalization publishes assessment, mapping, and property-information resources. Confirm current records, deadlines, and the correct office before relying on a tax, parcel, or assessment detail.
Arenac County lists Youngman Park and Campground at 3000 State Road in Standish with phone 989-876-4146. Confirm current availability, accessibility, fees, and seasonal rules before relying on a reservation or visit.
Arenac County Animal Control lists its office at 3750 Foco Road in Standish and phone 989-846-4421. Use it for routine animal-control, welfare, and spay/neuter questions; call 911 for an immediate danger.
Sterling Area Health Center's current Arenac food-resource list identifies Resurrection of the Lord at 423 West Cedar Street in Standish, with pantry hours Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and phone 989-846-9565. Confirm hours, identification rules, and current supplies before visiting.
Sterling Area Health Center's current food-resource list identifies Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 5622 Johnson Road in Standish, with pantry hours Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Confirm current schedule and availability before visiting.
Sterling Area Health Center's current food-resource list identifies Sterling United Methodist at 201 Main Street in Sterling, with food distribution on the last Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. Confirm the current schedule and supplies before visiting.
Sterling Area Health Center's current food-resource list identifies Community of Christ at 320 North State Street Road in Twining. Confirm current phone, hours, eligibility, and supply availability before relying on the food-box pathway.
Michigan's food-assistance information helps residents understand current food-benefit pathways and how to apply through MI Bridges or local MDHHS. Confirm eligibility and required documents before applying.
MI Bridges is Michigan's online pathway for screening and applying for selected benefits and services. Use it alongside local MDHHS or 211 navigation when online access, documents, or a local explanation would help.
Michigan Legal Help provides plain-language legal information, self-help tools, and referral pathways for issues such as housing, public benefits, debt, and family matters. Confirm whether the issue and household qualify for a referral.
Legal Services of Northern Michigan provides civil-legal information and possible representation for qualifying northern Michigan residents. Contact the organization to confirm current Arenac County coverage and intake requirements.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency helps veterans and families navigate benefits and services. Use the state site for current contact options and ask a county or state representative which pathway fits.
Michigan Works! connects job seekers and employers with employment, training, and career resources. Use the current state directory and regional contacts to confirm available programs near Standish and Arenac County.
MDOT's current public-transit directory helps identify regional providers and mobility services. Use it to cross-check Arenac-area transportation contacts and confirm service details before travel.
Michigan's ride-finder connects residents with transit and aging-related transportation resources and directs people to county providers. Use it to cross-check current Arenac County contacts before travel.
Michigan's early-childhood information connects families with Early On developmental screening and support. Use the state pathway to confirm the regional provider, eligibility, and current intake process.
Michigan State University Extension provides community education and practical programs through county and regional offices. Use the current county page to confirm programs and contacts.
The Library of Michigan's county guide provides official county reference information and identifies Standish as the Arenac County seat. Use current local government sources for service contacts and hours.
The county directory connects residents with the Clerk, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Equalization, courts, and related public-record pathways. Ask the county which office and current process fit the situation.
Michigan's aging and disability resource information helps residents locate local Area Agencies on Aging, disability supports, caregiver resources, and long-term-service navigation. Confirm which regional office serves the household.
Michigan's assistance information connects eligible households with energy and utility-support pathways. Confirm current application steps, documentation, and local funding before relying on assistance for a shutoff or repair concern.
A note from the Alliance
This guide is anchored in Standish, 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