*Correction: We’ve been informed that the shelter did have to turn some people away last year when they ran out of beds.
The Manitowoc Warming Shelter will be in a new location for the second year in a row.
The Common Council last night unanimously approved the conditional use permit (CUP) for the emergency warming shelter to be at St. Paul Lutheran Church on S. 10th Street.
Previously, the warming shelter was in the Lakeshore CAP Offices and at First Presbyterian Church, but law enforcement raised concerns about safety conditions, such as fire exits and a sprinkler system, for those staying overnight.
Like in years past, members of the Manitowoc Warming Shelter urged the council to pass the CUP, including Board of Directors President Ken Walters.
As before, the Manitowoc Warming Shelter will allow a maximum of 12 unhoused people starting November 12th and will remain open until April 11th.
Two clauses previously discussed by the Common Council remain in the CUP, including that “no unhoused individual may be permitted to use the shelter for more than 76 nights each year” and that a lottery system will be implemented whenever more than 12 eligible unhoused individuals need shelter for a single night.
The warming shelter noted two instances last year when people needed shelter but had to be turned away because of the 76 day rule.
*Executive Director Pastor Matt Sauer tells Seehafernews.com that they had turned away folks 108 times, and in addition those 108, the warming shelter paid for 176 nights in a hotel.
He also adds that the shelter’s range for nightly over the 12 bed limit ranged from 0 -8 individuals.
80% of the time, they had no room.
St. Paul Lutheran Church has previously partnered with the Manitowoc Warming Shelter and wanted to help in whatever way they could.
