Advocates from We the People Michigan held a silent protest, meaning they held signs, handed out flyers and talked to festival goers about the current state of homelessness in Traverse City.
“As the prices rise for housing, more and more people are finding themselves in the woods because they can't afford the overpriced rent here in Traverse City,” said Audrey Ouillette, an advocate with the group.
A focus of the demonstrations was Safe Harbor, a shelter in Traverse City. It is only open from mid-October to the end of April.
Advocates for the unhoused are trying to see the shelter open year-round.
Safe Harbor said in a statement from March that they also wish for this, but working with local authorities on an agreement has not been easy.
The shelter, the city and Grand Traverse County and the Coalition to end Homelessness have a memorandum of understanding drafted. This agreement would have allowed the parties to evaluate the ability of the shelter to go year-round. Back in January, the shelter board approved the MOU, but has not heard from officials.
We the People Michigan is still trying to work with local officials in the city, the county and in the Statehouse. Their main legislative goal is to pass affordable housing legislation, including rent control.
