16 | FEBRUARY 2 • 2023 

G

arrett’s Space, a suicide 
prevention nonprofit, 
is the latest recipient 
of $4 million in federal fund-
ing as part of the Fiscal Year 
2023 Omnibus Appropriations 
Package.
The multi-million-dollar 
award comes at a crucial time 
when the nonprofit, which 
currently operates out of Ann 
Arbor with mostly virtual 
programming, has plans to 
expand with a new 12,000-to- 
15,000-square-foot residential 
center for young adults.
Scott and Julie Halpert, both 

61, of Ann Arbor and members 
of Temple Beth Emeth, opened 
the nonprofit in 2019 in honor 
of their son, Garrett, whom they 
lost to suicide in 2017 at age 23. 
The experience showed them 
huge gaps in treatment options 
for young adults struggling with 
mental health challenges that 
needed to be filled.
Since 2021, the organization 
has aimed to fill those gaps 
with weekly support groups for 
young adults that include guid-
ed discussions, peer support 
and breathing exercises.
The goal of Garrett’s Space 

was to create a nurturing, heal-
ing center that was both holistic 
and supportive, but didn’t have 
a medical feel. Instead, the cen-
ter would serve as a safe space 
for young adults aged 18 to 28 
who are struggling with depres-
sion, anxiety or other mental 
health challenges.
Now, with the right funding 
secured, that vision has a chance 
to grow.
“We thought there was a 
decent chance we would get it, 
but we didn’t know for certain,
” 
says Scott Halpert, who explains 
that he and his wife applied 

for the funding back in March 
2022, and recently received 
news of their acceptance.
“It was surreal,
” adds Julie 
Halpert. “It’s an incredibly 
pleasant surprise, and it’s going 
to make a significant difference 
in our ability to achieve our 
vision in a more reasonable 
timeframe.
”

CREATING A SAFE SPACE 
FOR HOLISTIC HEALING
Scott Halpert estimates con-
struction of the residential 
center, which they hope will be 
located in Superior Township, 
will be completed in two to 
three years. Young adults will 
be able to stay there for three to 
four weeks, and the center will 
be capable of housing anywhere 
from 15-20 residents at any 
one time, plus an additional 10 
adults for daytime program-
ming.
With the property currently 
under contract, Scott Halpert is 
hopeful that the funds from the 
$4 million award can be used to 
help Garrett’s Space acquire the 
76-acre lot upon which the res-
idential center will be located, 
which the Halperts are currently 
negotiating.
Full of woods and nature, the 
Superior Township property 
has an existing 5,000-square-
foot house that Scott Halpert 
calls “very beautiful” and can 
be converted into a center for 
programming like yoga, medita-
tion, support groups and poten-

OUR COMMUNITY

Suicide prevention nonprofit will 
use funds to open residential center.

Garrett’s 
Garrett’s 

Space 
Space 
Receives 
Receives 
$4 Million 
$4 Million 
in Funding
in Funding

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Garrett 
Halpert

Garrett’s Space program facilitators

Scott and Julie Halpert with 
their son Garrett and daughters 
Aly and Madeline.

