Winona Community Warming Center is open from Nov. 1 to March 31.
Mission: To provide temporary, emergency shelter for adults and the homeless population of Winona County.
Services: Providing a safe and warm overnight stay from November through March. Snacks and coffee are always available, and guests must be checked in between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. (after 10 p.m., visitors will receive a referral to other locations in Winona).
Volunteering: The Warming Center looks for volunteers for an early shift (8:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.) and a late shift (2 a.m. – 8 a.m.). If you are interested in volunteering you can call the warming center during open hours at (507)-474-5099.
What volunteers do:
- Early shift (8:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.)
- Help check people into the building
- Ensure visitors are aware of what the warming center has to offer (shower, food, donated items such as clothes and toothbrushes, games, books, lounge area, etc.)
- Ensure no one is under the influence and following the rules of the warming center
- Provide guests with a blanket, sheet cover, pillow and pillow cover
- Store guests’ belongings in storage bins
- Keep track of bed numbers
- Interact with guests
- Late shift (2 a.m. – 8 a.m.)
- Ensure guests are safe, and awake and ready to go at 7 a.m.
Fact: 14.5% of Winona County’s population is living in poverty. There are multiple warming centers and other locations in Winona and outside of Winona available to help, including:
This center is for females who are facing abuse and need a safe place to get away from their abuser.
2. Dorothy Day Hospitality House
This center is located in Rochester, MN, and primarily serves ages 18 and older, though small families are occasionally housed as well. Guests can stay up to 14 consecutive days.
This is an emergency overnight shelter that also provides supportive housing for single adults and families. Simpson reports that homeless and warming shelters for youth are more focused on rehabilitation (getting them into the foster care system, etc.), which could be a reason for youth to avoid shelters altogether, because they don’t want to be put in the system.
Myths and Misconceptions about Homelessness:
- People do not choose to be homeless
- Homeless people should just find a job
- This is the fault of our society, not the person
- Not all homeless people are addicts
- Alcoholism and drug addictions are a disease
- As we would view anyone else, we all have our own struggles as well and they are no less than us
- Being homeless is not a result of being lazy
- Just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean you are uneducated, a drug addict/alcoholic, lazy, don’t want to find a job, or a thief
If you or someone you know identify as homeless, please know that there are many services and centers available to help. You are not alone.