After several years of stops and starts, a community effort involving numerous partners and funds from private donors and grants finally resulted in a warm place for homeless adults to sleep at night in Brainerd.
This November marked the first time since the spring of 2019 that any kind of shelter closer than St. Cloud was available to people experiencing homelessness, and the previous program involving area churches served families with children, but not single adults.
Spearheaded by Brainerd-based nonprofit Bridges of Hope, Crow Wing County and other community organizations, the warming shelter at 1926 S. Seventh St. is open every day from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., providing beds for 20 adults with no limit on the number of nights a person can stay. Walk-ins are welcome until 11 p.m. each night. Trained staff members are on site at all times during open hours, and clients have space for any possessions they bring along.
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EDITORIAL > Our Opinion: Brainerd area steps up to help the homeless
Although advocates in social services fields have for years sought to bring awareness to rural homelessness, the need was starkly illustrated by a sheltering program operated by Crow Wing County during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between April 20, 2020, and June 7, 2021, the sheltering program served 386 people — some for more than one stint, resulting in 263 unduplicated households — for an average of 33 days of shelter. The county primarily used four hotels in Brainerd and Baxter as its shelter locations.
" “Nobody should have to sleep outside, and I think our community is stepping up and showing they agree with us on that."
— Jana Shogren, Bridges of Hope executive director
MORE STORIES ON NEW SHELTER
- Caring about the community: Warming shelter proposed in south Brainerd
- City officials propel shelter project forward
- Commission approves language for warming shelter permits in Brainerd
- Community sleep-out event exceeds fundraising goal for warming shelter
- Sleepout surpasses expectations with funds, ordinance in place for new warming shelter
- Brainerd's warming shelter opens as wintry weather arrives
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Funds keep trickling in for warming shelter, other donations needed
The results of that program led to two new positions in the county focused on housing resources. But the immediate need remained, and Jana Shogren, Bridges of Hope executive director, told the Dispatch narrowing the focus of attempts to address the problems to an overnight shelter made moving the needle more attainable.
“Once you do that well, it’s easier to build onto that rather than trying to do too much and not doing it well,” Shogren said. “We’re laser-focused on doing this one piece really well and making sure it sticks around.”
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LISTEN ON THE BRAINERD DISPATCH MINUTE
- Listen: Warming shelter proposed in south Brainerd
- Listen: Community sleep-out raises funds for shelter
- Listen: Warming shelter exceeds fundraising goal, gets needed ordinance change
- Listen: Warming shelter one step closer in Brainerd
- Listen: Warming shelter opens in time for wintry weather
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Listen: Warming shelter sees busiest night, seeks item donations
It wasn’t a straight path, requiring a conditional use permit and a change to the city’s zoning code as well as ginning up support for people to open their pocketbooks. A weeklong sleepout event in early November at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church served to raise not only money but also awareness for the issue of homelessness in the area. More than 25 community members used cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and tarps to make beds outside near a busy intersection with the goal of raising $70,000.
Instead, the event resulted in nearly $210,000 in funds, covering costs for the shelter’s first year of operation and much of the second, with more than 300 people and entities contributing.
"“Once you do that well, it’s easier to build onto that rather than trying to do too much and not doing it well. We’re laser-focused on doing this one piece really well and making sure it sticks around."
— Jana Shogren, Bridges of Hope executive director
“I believe this really demonstrates the commitment that this community is showing, and they’re coming behind us and alongside us to make this a reality,” said Jana Shogren, executive director of nonprofit Bridges of Hope, to the Brainerd City Council Nov. 15. “Nobody should have to sleep outside, and I think our community is stepping up and showing they agree with us on that.”
Sitting at 84% funded for two years, the shelter is now accepting material donations as well as monetary. Among the most needed items, Shogren said, are hand warmers, new or gently used gloves and mittens, twin-sized blankets and sheets, pants and sweatshirts. Those with donations should call Bridges of Hope at 218-825-7682 to set up an appointment.
THE BACK STORY
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- Homelessness happens here
- Homeless program New Pathways will not return to Brainerd
- How can the lakes area serve its homeless? Community gathers to brainstorm
- Annual tally puts faces to Crow Wing's homelessness statistics
- Crow Wing County seeks fresh approach for homelessness
- Crow Wing County to hire 2 to focus on housing needs
CHELSEY PERKINS, community editor, may be reached at 218-855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at twitter.com/DispatchChelsey .
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