A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide

Hoarding support in Traverse 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, care, or practical concern in Grand Traverse County.

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

Start here - Fight the Blight

You do not have to know the perfect next step.

Our virtual groups give people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns a place to connect from Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and other 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. For behavioral-health crisis support, call Northern Lakes Community Mental Health at 833-295-0616, or call or text 988. For housing or resource navigation, contact Grand Traverse County HARA through the regional housing hotline, Safe Harbor, Goodwill Inn, or Michigan 211.

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.

Role: private-pay hoarding support and family guidance; geography: broader service area; cost/eligibility: private-pay scope and rates apply; emergency limit: not emergency response

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 Traverse City or Grand Traverse County.

Role: digital peer support and education; geography: online; cost/eligibility: confirm current access and options; emergency limit: not therapy, crisis response, 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.

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.

Role: emergency dispatch; geography: Traverse City and Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: emergency use; emergency limit: use for immediate danger, fire, medical crisis, violence, or a life-safety threat; not a hoarding-support referral

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.

Role: public-safety dispatch and non-emergency routing; geography: Grand Traverse County, including Traverse City; cost/eligibility: public service; emergency limit: call 911 for police, fire, or medical emergency

Grand Traverse County 911 / Central Dispatch

Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch receives emergency calls and routes non-emergency public-safety concerns. Call 911 for an emergency; use the published non-emergency number for routine police, fire, or public-safety questions.

Role: city law enforcement and public safety; geography: City of Traverse City; cost/eligibility: public service; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; not a cleanup or clinical service

Traverse City Police Department

The Traverse City Police Department provides law-enforcement services within the city and offers community-policing and public-safety resources. Use 911 for immediate danger; call Central Dispatch for an appropriate non-emergency routing question.

Role: county law enforcement and public safety; geography: Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: public service; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; not a cleanup or clinical service

Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office

The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office provides countywide law-enforcement and public-safety services. Call 911 for an emergency, use Central Dispatch for non-emergency routing, and contact the office with questions about county programs or public-safety services.

Role: fire suppression, advanced life support, water rescue, hazardous-materials response, inspections, and public education; geography: City of Traverse City; cost/eligibility: public service; emergency limit: call 911 for an active fire or rescue emergency

Traverse City Fire Department

The Traverse City Fire Department provides emergency life-safety services within the city, including fire response, advanced life support, water rescue, and hazardous-materials response. It also provides inspections and fire-prevention education; call 911 for an active emergency.

Role: disaster preparedness, alerts, response, and recovery coordination; geography: Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: public service; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; not individual crisis counseling

Grand Traverse County Emergency Management

Grand Traverse County Emergency Management plans and coordinates with public-safety agencies and community partners and operates Grand Traverse Alert notifications. Use it for preparedness and public-emergency information; call 911 for an active emergency.

Role: 24/7 hospital emergency care and Level II trauma services; geography: Traverse City and surrounding Grand Traverse County area; cost/eligibility: hospital billing and coverage rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for life-threatening emergencies; not a hoarding-support program

Munson Medical Center Emergency Room

Munson Medical Center's emergency room is open 24 hours every day and treats serious medical, surgical, and psychiatric emergencies. The hospital is at 1105 Sixth Street; call 911 for a severe, life-threatening emergency rather than driving yourself.

Role: public behavioral-health access, mobile crisis, and crisis response; geography: Grand Traverse County and Northern Lakes service area; cost/eligibility: crisis services available regardless of insurance or ability to pay; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; not a general cleanup service

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority Crisis Services

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health provides 24/7 behavioral-health crisis support, mobile crisis services, and access to the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center. Call 833-295-0616 for crisis support and ask about ongoing-service eligibility and payment rules.

Role: behavioral-health crisis assessment, intervention, and access center; geography: Traverse City and regional service area; cost/eligibility: crisis access is available regardless of insurance or ability to pay; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center

The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center is on the Munson campus at 410 Brook Street in Traverse City. Northern Lakes describes crisis services as available to any person of any age in crisis; call first for current hours, access, and service details.

Role: national call, text, and chat crisis support; geography: Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and the United States; cost/eligibility: free; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate physical danger or medical emergency

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or use the 988 chat, for immediate emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a behavioral-health crisis. 988 is not a hoarding-specific service and does not replace 911 for an immediate physical emergency.

Role: domestic-violence and sexual-assault crisis line, advocacy, safety planning, and shelter connection; geography: Grand Traverse County and surrounding region; cost/eligibility: survivor-focused intake and availability apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Women's Resource Center of Grand Traverse County

The Women's Resource Center provides confidential support, advocacy, safety planning, and crisis services for people affected by domestic or sexual violence. Call the helpline to discuss current options and safety planning; call 911 for immediate danger.

Role: youth crisis intervention, runaway and homeless-youth services, and outreach; geography: Grand Traverse County and northwest Michigan; cost/eligibility: youth-focused intake and availability apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Third Level Crisis Intervention / Pete's Place

Third Level Crisis Intervention provides crisis and outreach services for children and youth, including Pete's Place resources listed by the City of Traverse City. Call to ask about current youth services and access; use 911 for immediate danger.

Role: statewide reporting for suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; geography: Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: reports may be made by the public and mandated reporters; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Michigan MDHHS Adult and Child Protective Services

Report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, to Michigan MDHHS Centralized Intake at 855-444-3911 any time day or night. This is a protective-services report line, not a general hoarding-support referral.

Role: public-health clinics, prevention, environmental health, and community-health coordination; geography: Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: program-specific eligibility and fees may apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency

Grand Traverse County Health Department

The Grand Traverse County Health Department provides public-health services, health clinics, prevention, environmental-health information, and community partnerships. Contact the department to ask about the right program and current eligibility or fees; it is not emergency response or a cleanup service.

Role: city planning, zoning, rental-housing, nuisance, and code-enforcement information; geography: City of Traverse City; cost/eligibility: permit and enforcement rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or crisis intervention

Traverse City Planning, Zoning & Code Enforcement

The City's Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement department handles zoning regulations, rental-housing and property-maintenance concerns, nuisance issues, permits, and related public-safety codes. Contact the department for city property questions; call 911 for an active safety emergency.

Role: county building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and construction-code information; geography: Grand Traverse County outside jurisdictions with their own enforcement; cost/eligibility: permit and inspection rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency dispatch

Grand Traverse County Construction Code

Grand Traverse County's construction-code staff can explain county building and related inspection requirements. Ask which jurisdiction handles a particular address before starting repair or stabilization work; call 911 for an active fire or life-safety emergency.

Role: county animal-control, licensing, and animal-safety services; geography: Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: service and licensing rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; not a hoarding-disorder treatment service

Grand Traverse County Animal Control

Grand Traverse County Animal Control handles animal-control and animal-safety matters. Contact the office about animal welfare, licensing, or control concerns; describe immediate danger clearly and use 911 when people or animals face an urgent threat.

Role: crisis support for veterans, service members, and their loved ones; geography: Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and the United States; cost/eligibility: free; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger or medical emergency

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or use the Veterans Crisis Line chat. This is crisis support, not a hoarding-specific service or a substitute for emergency responders.

Role: statewide health and human-services information and referral; geography: Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and Michigan; cost/eligibility: free navigation; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger and 988 for behavioral-health crisis

Michigan 211

Michigan 211 connects people with current local information about housing, food, utilities, health care, transportation, and other basic needs. Ask for Grand Traverse County options and confirm each provider's eligibility, hours, capacity, and cost.

Role: utility-locate request service before digging; geography: Michigan, including Traverse City and Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: request rules and timing apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or a utility repair service

MISS DIG 811

Contact MISS DIG 811 before digging or excavation so underground utility lines can be marked. This helps reduce property and personal-safety risks during repair or stabilization work; it is not a cleanup or emergency service.

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.

Role: housing assessment, homelessness prevention, central intake, and resource navigation; geography: Grand Traverse County and NMCAA service area; cost/eligibility: housing crisis or risk of homelessness is the entry point and availability varies; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or police response

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency / Grand Traverse County HARA

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency serves as the Housing Assessment and Resource Agency for the region. Contact the central housing intake line about homelessness prevention, housing instability, shelter connections, and current local referrals.

Role: year-round emergency shelter, food, basic needs, and housing-focused services; geography: Traverse City and northwest Michigan; cost/eligibility: shelter intake, capacity, and program rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger; call housing intake before arrival

Goodwill Inn Emergency Homeless Shelter

Goodwill Inn is a year-round emergency shelter for adults and families experiencing homelessness, with food and basic needs while guests work toward safe, permanent housing. Call the regional housing assistance line first to ask about current intake and capacity.

Role: emergency shelter, food, and housing-and-human-services resource center; geography: Grand Traverse County and surrounding region; cost/eligibility: shelter access, hours, capacity, and intake rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse

Safe Harbor provides emergency shelter and a year-round housing and human-services resource center. Its current shelter page directs people seeking shelter to call 231-944-0283 and the regional homeless response hotline at 844-900-0500; confirm hours and availability before traveling.

Role: public housing, housing-choice-voucher administration, and affordable-housing information; geography: Traverse City and regional voucher service area; cost/eligibility: income, program, waitlist, and property rules apply; emergency limit: does not provide emergency housing

Traverse City Housing Commission

The Traverse City Housing Commission operates public housing and administers the regional Housing Choice Voucher program. Its emergency-resources page states that it does not provide emergency housing, so contact the Commission for program information and use regional housing intake for an immediate housing crisis.

Role: rent assistance through federally funded housing vouchers; geography: Grand Traverse, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and northern Wexford Counties; cost/eligibility: income, preference, waitlist, and program rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency shelter

Traverse City Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher program helps eligible households pay rent through a federally funded program administered by the Traverse City Housing Commission. The current program page says the HCV waiting list is closed; check the official page for status and current application information.

Role: local housing assistance and housing-navigation pathway; geography: Traverse City and Grand Traverse County area; cost/eligibility: program-specific intake and availability apply; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or crisis response

Homestretch Housing

Homestretch is listed by the City of Traverse City and regional homelessness resources as a local housing-assistance contact. Call to ask about current housing programs, eligibility, and whether the current need fits its services.

Role: affordable homeownership, home repair, and housing-stability programs; geography: Grand Traverse Region; cost/eligibility: application, income, property, and program requirements apply; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or crisis response

Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region

Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region offers housing and home-repair pathways subject to its current application and program requirements. Contact the organization to ask what programs are open and whether a property or household fits the current criteria.

Role: food, clothing, household-goods, and emergency-assistance pathway; geography: Traverse City and Grand Traverse County area; cost/eligibility: assistance and appointment rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or crisis response

Father Fred Foundation

Father Fred Foundation is a local basic-needs resource listed in the City of Traverse City's community guide. Contact the organization to ask about current food, clothing, household-goods, and emergency-assistance options and what documentation or scheduling may be required.

Role: rescued-food distribution and emergency-food-system support; geography: Grand Traverse and northern Michigan service region; cost/eligibility: food access is distributed through local pantries and meal sites; availability varies; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or medical care

Goodwill Northern Michigan Food Rescue

Goodwill Northern Michigan's Food Rescue program collects and distributes rescued food to local pantries and meal sites. Contact Goodwill or Michigan 211 for current pantry and meal-site connections rather than assuming a particular location has same-day availability.

Role: regional food-resource coordination and pantry information; geography: northwest Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: pantry and meal-site eligibility and hours vary; emergency limit: not emergency shelter or medical care

Northwest Michigan Food Coalition

The Northwest Michigan Food Coalition helps connect people with regional food resources. Use its current listings or call Michigan 211 to ask about pantry, grocery, and meal options near Traverse City and confirm hours, eligibility, and availability first.

Role: public transit, City Ride, County Ride, and on-demand transportation; geography: Traverse City and Grand Traverse County service area; cost/eligibility: fares, routes, reservations, and reduced-fare rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency medical transport

Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA)

BATA provides public transportation in and around Traverse City, including fixed routes and on-demand services identified in local resource guides. Check current routes, service hours, fares, and eligibility before planning a medical, housing, or resource visit.

Role: aging, caregiver, nutrition, and senior-service navigation; geography: Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: age, caregiver, program, and service-area rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or crisis counseling

Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging

The Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging connects older adults and caregivers with aging-related programs and services. Contact the Commission to ask about current options, eligibility, transportation, nutrition, and caregiver support.

Role: disability advocacy, independent-living support, and resource navigation; geography: northern Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: disability-related program criteria may apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or medical care

Disability Network Northern Michigan

Disability Network Northern Michigan offers disability advocacy and independent-living resources. Contact the organization to ask about current services, accessibility guidance, benefits navigation, and local referrals.

Role: public library, computers, Wi-Fi, information help, meeting spaces, and accessible services; geography: Grand Traverse County library district; cost/eligibility: public access and card or program rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or crisis counseling

Traverse Area District Library

The Traverse Area District Library provides public computing, Wi-Fi, information help, meeting spaces, digital resources, and accessible services through its library network. The Main Library is at 610 Woodmere Avenue; check current hours and service details before visiting.

Role: counseling, alcohol-and-drug services, family support, and gerontological services; geography: Traverse City and northwest Michigan; cost/eligibility: intake, service, insurance, and payment rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency crisis response

Catholic Human Services of Northwest Michigan

Catholic Human Services is listed in the City of Traverse City's community guide for counseling, alcohol-and-drug services, and gerontological support. Contact the organization to ask about current programs, cost, insurance, and whether its services fit the situation.

Role: community health care and primary-care access; geography: Traverse City and surrounding region; cost/eligibility: clinic intake, appointment, and payment rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for an emergency

Traverse Health Clinic

Traverse Health Clinic is a local health-care resource listed by the City of Traverse City. Contact the clinic to ask about current services, appointments, coverage, and access; use 911 or a hospital emergency room for an emergency.

Role: community health center and primary-care access; geography: northwest Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: clinic intake, coverage, and sliding-fee rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for an emergency

Northwest Michigan Health Services

Northwest Michigan Health Services is listed as a local medical resource for the Traverse City area. Contact the health center to ask about current primary-care, behavioral-health, dental, or payment options and whether the location fits the need.

Role: substance-use assessment, treatment, and recovery support; geography: Traverse City and northwest Michigan; cost/eligibility: clinical intake, payer, and program rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger or overdose

Addiction Treatment Services

Addiction Treatment Services is listed by the City of Traverse City as a local substance-use support pathway. Contact ATS to ask about current assessment, treatment, recovery, payment, and referral options; call 911 for an overdose or life-threatening emergency.

Role: hospital-based behavioral-health and psychiatric care; geography: Traverse City and surrounding region; cost/eligibility: clinical intake, coverage, and hospital rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger or severe medical crisis

Munson Behavioral Health

Munson Behavioral Health is listed in the City's local resource guide for behavioral-health and psychiatric services. Contact the program to ask about current outpatient or hospital-connected options; use 911 or the emergency room for an immediate crisis.

Role: Michigan benefits application and benefits-management portal; geography: Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: program eligibility and verification rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency response

MI Bridges

MI Bridges is Michigan's online pathway to apply for and manage certain health, food, cash, child-care, and emergency-assistance benefits. Use Michigan 211 or the local DHHS office if online access or application navigation is difficult, and confirm current program rules.

Role: self-help legal information, forms, and legal-aid referrals; geography: Michigan, including Grand Traverse County; cost/eligibility: legal-aid eligibility and case limits apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or legal representation by itself

Michigan Legal Help

Michigan Legal Help provides self-help information and referrals for housing, consumer, family, public benefits, and other civil-legal issues. Use it to understand options and find an appropriate legal-aid pathway; it is not emergency response or a substitute for an attorney when one is required.

Role: veteran-benefits navigation, emergency assistance, and local referrals; geography: Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties; cost/eligibility: veteran, service, and program eligibility rules apply; emergency limit: use the Veterans Crisis Line or 911 for a crisis

Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs

Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs helps veterans and families access federal, state, and local benefits and publishes information about emergency assistance and transportation. Contact the office to ask about current eligibility and services.

Role: employment, training, workforce, and veteran-employment services; geography: northwest Michigan, including Traverse City; cost/eligibility: program and participant eligibility rules apply; emergency limit: not emergency response

Michigan Works! Northwest

Michigan Works! provides employment, training, and workforce-navigation services and is listed in regional resources for Traverse City. Contact the local office to ask about current programs, eligibility, transportation, and veteran or seasonal-worker assistance.

Role: street outreach, housing navigation, and support for people experiencing homelessness; geography: Traverse City and northern Michigan; cost/eligibility: outreach assessment and available-program rules apply; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Goodwill Northern Michigan Street Outreach

Goodwill Northern Michigan's housing and homeless-services team includes street outreach for people living unsheltered. Contact the regional housing assistance line to ask for current outreach and shelter connections rather than approaching a person in a way that could increase risk.

Role: local outreach, day-resource, and community-support pathway; geography: Traverse City area; cost/eligibility: current hours, programs, and availability apply; emergency limit: not emergency response or a substitute for shelter intake

Jubilee House

Jubilee House is listed in regional homelessness resources as a Traverse City outreach and community-support contact. Call to ask what current services and hours are available, and use the regional housing hotline for shelter or housing navigation.

Role: city-maintained starting directory for local basic-needs, housing, health, legal, safety, and transportation resources; geography: Traverse City and surrounding area; cost/eligibility: each listed provider sets its own rules; emergency limit: call 911 for immediate danger

Traverse City Community Resource Guide

The City of Traverse City's Community Resource Guide organizes local contacts across housing, shelter, food, health care, mental health, domestic violence, disability, legal aid, transportation, and veteran services. Use it as a starting directory, then confirm each provider's current hours, eligibility, capacity, and cost.

A note from the Alliance

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

This guide is anchored in Traverse 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