The Traverse City homeless shelter expects at least 30 people to come through its doors.
TRAVERSE CITY -- It's a way in out of the cold...and for those who have no where to go on a night where temperatures could drop near the single digits, Safe Harbor provides a warm place to stay.
"On a night like this, as cold as the day has gotten we could see 30 real easily," says Safe Harbor volunteer, Harry Hubbell.
Hubbell isn't talking about 30 degrees, instead 30 people who could turn to the Safe Harbor homeless shelter. The program which rotates through area churches during the winter months is being held this week at Traverse City Church of the Nazarene.
With a wind chill that could reach as low nine degrees below zero, Hubbell says the program is crucial.
"If you think about it yourself , even if you're a camper this is not the time of year you would choose to go out there and make it through that, certainly not more than one night...Basically just about anything that a person needs to get through the winter we can provide here," says Hubbell.
Hubbell says although 25 people are staying at Safe Harbor now, that number could rise as temperatures continue to drop.
"January and February are always our peak months. We have seen as many as 47 people in a single evening that needed shelter, so we deal with that," says Hubbell.
And on a night when temperatures are dangerously low, Safe Harbor becomes a safe haven for those in need of shelter...
"We don't set a limit. If we need to find more beds we would open up another church if we had to," says Hubbell.
If you would like to make food or clothing donations to Safe Harbor or even volunteer, you can contact Traverse City Church of the Nazarene at : (231) 947-5445.
