Waupaca warming shelter struggles with pandemic
By Angie Landsverk
As Foundations for Living, Inc. prepares to open its warming center on Nov. 1, it does so with some uncertainty.
The COVID-19 pandemic means not as many people will be able to stay at the center this season.
In a typical season, the maximum number of guests the center may have is eight.
With the need to physically distance the guests who stay there this season, Wilma Akright said they are measuring the space to learn how many will fit in the space.
That number may be six people, or it may be as low as four people.
As a result, a solution is being sought for what spaces may be available in the city for overflow.
One idea involves contacting local hotels.
Akright is the executive director of Foundations for Living (FFL).
FFL is located at 1421 Churchill St., in Waupaca.
It opens its center for the winter season on Nov. 1 and closes it on April 30.
The center is open from 7 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. the next day.
Volunteers needed
FFL needs volunteers for what will be its sixth season of operating the warming center.
“The hardest time is overnight,” she said,
Akright was referring to the two volunteers needed to stay overnight with the guests from 10 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. the following day.
Two volunteers are also needed during the hospitality time, which is from 7-10:30 p.m.
Last spring, FFL’s volunteer base dropped from around 50 people to just a handful.
The majority of its active volunteers are over age 65.
FFL is now contacting its core group of volunteers to learn who is willing to return this season.
So far, at least 12 of them say they are, Akright said.
The warming center is one large room.
In preparation for this season, dividers were purchased to place between the beds, providing physical distancing.
She said they hoped things would be back to normal by the time they opened for this season.
With that not the case, FFL officials have met with city officials and leaders via Zoom.
Meeting with city
On Sept. 29, City Administrator Aaron Jenson hosted a brainstorming session at the Waupaca Recreation Center.
About 20 people – many of them Rotarians – attended the meeting.
The topics discussed included the need for volunteers, overflow space when the center is full and what to do if a guest needs to quarantine, or tests positive for the virus.
A networking effort to keep the issue in the forefront is planned.
There are a number of ideas for increasing awareness about homelessness in the community and the need for volunteers.
These include creating flyers for distribution and recording testimonials of volunteers and posting them on social media.
In regard to the possible need for overflow space for guests, Akright said the best solution at this point is finding out if hotels would be available.
Homeless in Waupaca County
She said homelessness looks different in Waupaca County.
Akright describes it as people being temporarily displaced.
Some couch surf, and some stay at a hotel temporarily.
Others stay in cars or in a tent or camper in the backyard of someone they know.
In the five seasons FFL’s warming center has been open, a total of 148 guests have stayed there.
The majority of them have been men.
Last season, 32 people stayed there
.
Of that amount, 29 were men and three were women, Akright said.
Many of the people they see at the center have minimum wage jobs.
They live in cars and sometimes tents in the summer.
“And then usually, as it gets colder, we see them here,” she said.
Akright said, “Our goal is never just to house. If anyone stays for three nights, we require if they want to stay longer to have an evaluation of how they’re going to move on with their life.”
The minimum wage jobs many have make it difficult for them to afford housing.
Last season, at least one person stayed at the warming center for five months.
Akright said it is common for men to stay there several months.
Some are in and out of the center.
They may stay at the center and then with family members for a few weeks and then return to the warming center.
Akright is concerned about how the pandemic may affect this season’s numbers.
FFL’s office has been receiving phone calls for several weeks from people asking if the warming center is already open.
“It’s earlier than normal,” she said.
In these situations, FFL asks them if they have family members and a job in the community.
When they do not, Akright said they tell them about the centers currently open in Stevens Point and Appleton, and ask if they have to way to get to one of them.
“Usually, they don’t want to leave, because this is all they know,” she said.
Offering to put someone in a hotel for a few days is a quick fix.
FFL works to help people long term.
They are able to write vouchers for the Salvation Army out of the FFL office, and the organization has funds available to help people with clothing, food, hygiene items and taxi rides.
Donations needed
As FFL gets ready to open the warming center, it has needs as well.
“We always like to have something clean available for them to sleep in when they arrive,” Akright said.
New sweatpants and T-shirts in a variety of adult sizes are needed, as well as adult size slippers and eight new pillows.
Personal hygiene items, such as deodorant, shampoo and body wash, are needed as well.
Other needs include bath towels and washclothes in either white or dark colors.
Yet another idea is to donate notebooks to the center.
“They like to write and draw,” Akright said of the guests.
Due to the pandemic, all food donations for the warming center must be single serving sizes.
Examples of food items appreciated are microwaveable dinner items, cans of soup, granola bars, frozen breakfast sandwiches, fruit cups, beef jerky, single serving microwave popcorn, k-cup hot chocolate and coffee, individual coffee creamers and single serving peanut butter and jam.
FFL can also use paper products, varied sizes of garbage bags, toothpaste, cough drops, ear plugs and disinfecting wipes.
Donations may be dropped off at FFL’s office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Those interested in volunteering or who have ideas for how to meet the needs of the guests this season may contact Akright at 715-942-2725.
“We have less space, and I worry we could have some major issues,” Akright said.