Room at the Inn Launched Building Renovations

The Marquette homeless shelter has begun an extensive facility upgrade supported by public grant funding.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Home Renovation

Bold vector editorial illustration of a brick wall with a new window and scaffolding, symbolizing community shelter renovations. — The Room at the Inn shelter in Marquette has launched a series of facility renovations to modernize its electrical, mechanical, and structural systems. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is your community doing enough to provide adequate homeless shelter capacity for those in need?

Room at the Inn, located at 447 W. Washington St. in Marquette, has initiated a comprehensive building renovation project. The facility, which currently supports 46 homeless individuals nightly, is undergoing structural and mechanical improvements.

Why it matters

These upgrades aim to modernize the aging shelter infrastructure, ensuring that the facility remains a safe and functional environment for its guests. The project relies on public grants to fund necessary maintenance and system efficiency improvements.

The project secured a $100,000 grant from Marquette County and $72,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The facility currently accommodates 46 people nightly across 24 second-floor beds, 6 ADA-compliant beds, and 16 cots.

The players

Room at the Inn

This is a homeless shelter located in Marquette that provides overnight accommodations and support services.

Cross General Contracting

This is the construction firm currently managing the physical renovation of the shelter property.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

This state agency provides financial support for housing and community development projects throughout Michigan.

The details

The ongoing construction, managed by Cross General Contracting, includes extensive facade brick replacement and window installations. Additionally, the building is receiving electrical system upgrades, boiler improvements, and modernized shower facilities.

Federal COVID-19 pandemic funds for these grants were distributed between 2022 and 2023.
The removal of the building awning took place in 2025.

Culture Shift

This project highlights a broader trend of utilizing federal pandemic-era emergency funding to address long-standing deferred maintenance in community service facilities. Such investments represent a societal pivot toward prioritizing the structural resilience of essential social infrastructure.

The ongoing construction may cause temporary logistical adjustments for those accessing shelter services at 447 W. Washington St. Residents should anticipate localized disruptions as workers complete the facade, electrical, and boiler upgrades.

The takeaway

The renovation project reflects a strategic effort to improve the quality of life for the unhoused population by modernizing emergency housing facilities. Proper facility maintenance remains critical to ensuring that social service providers can continue to operate safely and effectively.