Warming centers around Wisconsin were vital in protecting the state’s unhoused community from the elements during January’s extreme cold snap.
In mid-January, much of the state was blanketed in a layer of dangerously cold air from the Arctic. In La Crosse, between Jan. 21-24, the city faced freezing temperatures that reached as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill.
Karla Hein coordinates the La Crosse Warming Center. On WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Hein said her shelter welcomes anyone in need of a warm space to spend the night.
News with a little more humanity
WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter.
“We allow everybody and anybody to come in, regardless of past experiences or how they present at the door,” she said.
Warming centers can often serve as overflow spaces for traditional shelters for unhoused people. While those shelters often require hotel licenses and are more regulated due to beds, Hein said warming centers face fewer bureaucratic and zoning demands.
While Hein said the La Crosse Warming Center operates throughout the winter months, other centers may temporarily open during extreme weather events.
Taleah Proctor is the coordinator for Good Shepherd Shelter in Wausau. On “Wisconsin Today,” she praised Wausau residents for always stepping up to meet the needs of shelters.
But she added that housing challenges, especially in the winter months, continue to rise.
“Every single time there’s ever been an ask put out there to our community, they have been absolutely amazing at reaching that need,” Proctor said. “However, that need is growing and I’d say probably the biggest need that is in our area is safe and affordable housing.”
Both Hein’s and Proctor’s warming centers operate through the Catholic Charities network.
Good Shepherd Shelter in Wausau typically holds 30 people. Hein said the La Crosse center holds 34. But during last month’s bitter cold temperatures, both centers went into their own overflow, adding an additional 10 spaces each for people just to make sure nobody was left out in the cold.
“We’ve had over 215 different individuals spend evenings with us, for a shelter that can on regular nights occupy 34,” Hein said. “So, no, we are definitely not able to assist everyone who would and could use our services.”
Proctor said a second warming center recently opened up in Wausau. Between the two of them, the centers often house around 120 people on overflow nights, an increase from what she’s seen in past years.
“The need is growing,” Proctor said. “Last year, we were the only emergency night-by-night shelter within the area and we often were turning people away because we had a capacity of 40. But I can tell you I definitely wasn’t turning away 50 people a night. The need has grown tremendously within the last year.”
