FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac will not be opening its warming shelter this fall.
It left some wondering where they may go when the temperatures drop, but a church in the community is stepping up to care for those in need.
Due to the aging building, and being short staffed, Fond du Lac’s Salvation Army will no longer operate its seasonal warming shelter.
“This last season, well several seasons before, we’ve had plumbing issues with the restrooms, with the showers that we have here,” said Captain Christina Champlin.
Champlin says Fond du Lac’s Salvation Army saw in influx in people needing help over the past few years.
“Here, we had beds for 40 people, we always didn’t always have 40 people, but towards the end we had on average between 30-35 people,” said Champlin.
After learning the city would not have a warming shelter, Amber Kilawee, Executive Director of Fond du Lac County’s United Way, says the community came together to see how it could assist.
“At that time, United Way’s board of directors agreed to a partnership with UW-extension to begin the process of convening community partners to start having conversations that would lead us to a community solution,” said Kilawee.
That’s when the Holy Family Catholic Community stepped in.
“We had the means to buy a building so we thought we’ll step up forward with that and then we’ll work together with all the other community organizations to try to keep that moving forward,” said Erin Cobb, Holy Family Director of Human Concerns.
The Holy Family Warming Shelter will be at the old Langholff Chiropractic and Wellness building.
It’s located at 73 E. 1st St., steps from the downtown area. Holy Family says this is the perfect spot for the shelter.
“At the Y, we are located right in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks away from the shelter here,” said JJ Raflik, CEO at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA.
The warming shelter will offer up to 30 people a warm, clean place to sleep, in addition to hot, nutritious meals. Showers are anticipated to be put in next year, which is why Fond du Lac’s YMCA is teaming up with Holy Family for the time being.
“We’re very honored to be able to support the shelter in the needs of those that might be staying here, and be able to offer showers throughout the day at the Y,” said Raflik.
Champlin says the Salvation Army now has more time to focus on its new Housing Retention program.
“It’s another piece of trying to keep people from becoming homeless, so keeping people sustained in their housing,” said Champlin.
There will also be employment opportunities at Holy Family’s warming shelter, as well as those to volunteer and donate food.
“We still need a lot of help and so we’re really happy to have a lot with the community so we’ll see what happens,” said Associate Pastor Matthew Kirk with Holy Family.
Champlin says the organization is relieved that Holy Family is taking over.
“It’s a huge weight off of us, because when we made the decision, we didn’t want it to just fall on the wayside,” said Champlin. “We want to be a part of getting other people to support them in this effort, because we know as well that you can’t do it on your own. It’s a community wide effort.”
The shelter will be open from Nov. 15 until April.
If you’re interested in employment or volunteer opportunities with Holy Family’s warming shelter, click here for more information.
