Future warming center guests may leave with clean clothes

By Angie Landsverk

Foundations For Living wants to add a shower and laundry facility to its warming center.

The city’s Plan Commission and common council agree it is not a substantial change in use.

As a result, there is no change in the special use permit for the nonprofit.

Executive Director Wilma Akright attended the Plan Commission meeting last month.

She described Foundations For Living’s (FFL) plan.

“We are in the process of examining whether it’s an option,” she told the commission.

The first step is to complete drawings, Akright said.

Funding would be next, followed by seeking a building permit from the city, she said.

The shower and laundry facility would be built in a corner currently used as a storage area.

“We feel it’s a health issue and really a safety issue,” Akright said.

This past season, a total of 376 cots were filled, with one to five people cared for each night.

She noted that in a letter to Mayor Brian Smith and the Plan Commission.

The warming center is located at 1421 Churchill St.

This past season, it was open from Nov. 1 until mid-April.

“It is our intention for our evening guests to arrive at FFL by 8 p.m., place their things in a secure location, take a shower, change into sweatsuits provided by FFL and hand over their clothes to be washed, allowing them to leave in the morning in clean clothes,” Akright wrote in her letter.

She said the procedure will improve the health and hygiene of the clients and increase their self esteem.

In addition, it will enhance a positive connectedness in the community and help the city, Akright said.

Since they would shower at the warming center, they would not go to the Waupaca Recreation Center to use its showers.

Akright also wrote, “Making sure the guests shower prior to sleeping will help with security issues since it will make it more difficult to hide drugs or other forbidden substances and help keep the facility free of disease and infestations, such as lice and bedbugs.”

The laundry facility would be used to wash bedding, towels and sweatsuits daily.