Final Thanks from the Board Chair

Due to major cuts in annual funding from the State of Michigan alcohol tax revenues and a shortage of volunteers, Dann’s House (DH) has made the hard decision to transition this important Housing First program to a new management team. Our real-estate (the House) has been sold to St Vincent DePaul, who will act as a holding agency and will manage the ongoing expenses of the house and property. Northern Michigan Supportive Housing (NMSH) will team up with Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) to continue providing case management services along with peer support staffing to help with programming and operational needs at the house. This will keep our residents safe and in permanent housing. Our intent is to maintain housing opportunities for those that need it most, unhoused individuals living on the streets and who suffer from chronic use disorder.

Outside of donor contributions and small grants, the DH program operated mostly with financial support from the taxes collected on alcohol in Michigan, which is an identified priority use for those funds. The big picture for how the state alcohol tax program works looks like this: The State of Michigan collects on average $269 million annually from tax on alcohol products sold in the state. The Convention Facility Development Fund captures $76.9 million (28.6%) of these funds. The School Aid Fund collects $76.8 million (28.5%), while the remaining $115.3 million (42.9%) goes to the States General Fund. 3.5% of the State General Fund is then used for alcoholism treatment and prevention. Local programming is managed by the Northern Michigan Regional Entity (NMRE) who distributes these funds to 21 northern lower Michigan counties for programs that manage behavioral health services, including substance use disorder programing. While the State Legislature sets the overall distribution of the liquor tax funds, it is the local county’s decision to allocate 40% of their share to substance abuse programs. DH has always been a good use of these funds but due to varying priorities and changes to how the funds are distributed in the north, DH ended up losing half of its annual budgeted funds when this grant was pulled. This left us with no other option than to seek additional support to manage this important housing program.

Dann’s House volunteers have dedicated themselves to over 12 years of providing housing for a population of people that are typically forgotten; single men suffering from Chronic Use Disorder and who have been unhoused and living on the streets for close to 10 years. The House cannot operate without funding or dedicated volunteers. Over the years our successful program has provided housing for over 50 individuals, some who pulled their lives back together by stopping drinking all together while transitioning into independent housing opportunities. Our compassionate board members and one part-time paid staff person have operated the program all these years on a shoestring budget and we are sad to be having to transition out.

The current Board of Directors would like to honor and thank all those involved through the years, especially those from the beginning; Greg Stone, Karen McCarthy, Pat McGuire, Michael Haley and Jane Hayes who made it all happen. Thank you for having the foresight and vision to start up and run with a “Wet House” program like DH in Traverse City. Everyone is to be commended for these efforts! Thank you to all the caring individuals willing to looking past social norms and work to create and manage a safe place to support unhoused men living with chronic use disorder in this community. It’s not easy managing a program like this but it has been a rewarding experience for many who have stayed connected and supported those living with a chronic disability. We can’t thank you enough!

As the current DH chairperson, it has been an honor for me to be working with so many dedicated individuals willing to overlook our residents chronic disabilities and treat them with caring respect. Traverse City is like no other place. Many people here care about our underserved citizens and the support given DH has been unmatched. Those working in our community to end homelessness understand this which does not go unnoticed. We could not have done this work without all those involved in helping to house our unhoused citizens. It takes a villages as they say and it is my hope the Housing Coalition will continue to support any and all efforts to house the unhoused first and foremost. Bringing housing to those that need it most, people living on the streets, in the woods and in tents should be this communities first priority when it comes to housing. Everything else is secondary (IMO) especially when people are living out in the cold and are suffering from chronic disabilities. Housing First works and those in the most need should be prioritized first.

I want to thank everyone in this community who supported DH and ask that you continue to assist with the efforts of NMSH and ATS at keeping this program alive. Please continue to help those suffering from chronic use disorder to be permanently housed and please carry on our mission of providing stable, positive housing for those in our community suffering from chronic homelessness and persistent alcohol use disorder. Everyone deserves a second chance and the opportunity to be housed.

 ~ Jim Carruthers Board Chair

Unique Supportive Housing

Dann’s House is a Michigan Nonprofit Corporation that provides supportive housing for people who have experienced chronic homelessness and also suffer from persistent, severe Alcohol Use Disorder. The house does not require residents to abstain from alcohol.

Dann’s House began as part of StonesHouse, a nonprofit formed in 2005 to help communities develop recovery residences and supports.

More than just a roof

The first Dann’s House opened in 2014 in Traverse City, Michigan. The house provides much more than four walls and a roof. It offers consistent support from professional staff and specially trained volunteers, following a Harm Reduction Model. Once housed in a safe environment, residents tend to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume. A Case Manager meets with each resident to help them assess their needs and set goals for their lives. They then work together to access services that will help them meet those needs and goals.  A House Manager helps the residents to track their health improvements and make and keep appointments with doctors and counselors. Once they have achieved some stability, most residents even seek employment and volunteering work.

This kind of facility is commonly referred to as a “wet house.” We choose not to use that term because it is pejorative. It implies a “party house” and attempts to define our residents simply by reducing them to their disease.

Dann’s House is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that relies on support from a variety of sources to fulfill our mission. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Dann’s House has a new fence!

We would like to thank the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation for the grant to cover materials and labor to construct a 90′ fence. We were able to enclose our backyard and offer privacy for our residents and our nearest neighbors. One of our wonderful neighbors even helped with the construction.