Baraga County Shelter Home (BCSH) is pleased to announce that the domestic violence
organization has been awarded a major grant to improve its emergency shelter facilities.
BCSH has been operating the shelter home in L’Anse since 1984 as a safe space for women
and their children fleeing intimate partner abuse. Lack of funding for routine maintenance
and unexpected repairs has been an ongoing concern for decades.
“Our existing funding streams are focused on delivery of services to survivors, with very
little room for structural improvements or shelter repairs” explains Executive Director
Celeste Hendrickson. “Like many U.P. buildings, the home was built over 50 years ago and
in critical need of updating major systems. This grant allows us to make necessary
improvements that will help survivors and their children be safer and more comfortable for
decades to come.”
The grant is awarded by MSHDA’s Office of Rental Assistance and Homeless Solutions, as a
one-time allocation of $3 million to support critical infrastructure and capacity needs for
emergency shelters and transitional housing in Michigan. The purpose is to address
emergency shelter infrastructure needs related to access and safety, as well as increase
the number of available transitional housing units. Grants ranging from $50,000 to
$250,000 were awarded around the state to homeless and domestic violence shelters.
BCSH is very excited to receive such a large portion of the opportunity, and reports that
work has already begun on the 20 identified needs. The project includes everything from
replacing the main sewer and water supply lines to common sense landscaping that will
help prevent future flooding like what happened in May 2025, which had resulted in the
unexpected loss of the shelter’s furnace.
Other structural improvements include installing a sump pump, central air conditioning, a
generator, weather-resistant siding, and gutters. The worn and failing kitchen cabinets,
handicap ramp, internal plumbing and electrical lines, and more are being replaced and
the interior will be freshly painted.
‘It’s a huge undertaking, and one that we see as a stepping stone for our next major goal –
building a 600 square foot addition with attached garage to improve access for mobility-
challenged survivors and increase the number of victims that we can help to safety. In our
resource-scarce community, providing shelter for those fleeing harm is only becoming
more and more critical. An available bed can be the very real difference between life and
death” Hendrickson says.
The project is expected to be wrapped up by fall 2026, and BCSH is currently seeking
funding for the addition/garage project to follow. BCSH would like to thank Huron Bay
Builders for their work on the project, as well as North Sky Electric and Patrick’s Plumbing.
For more information on BCSH, local domestic violence services, and how to find help if
you or someone you love are experiencing violence, visit https://BCShelter.org.