This Year's Project: Support Long-Term Sustainability with a New Laundry Facility
About Our Organization
At The Warming Shelter, we are dedicated to offering a safe and supportive environment for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to provide essential services and resources that help residents regain stability, improve their quality of life, and work toward lasting solutions.
Day Shelter
Our Day Shelter serves as a beacon of community and support for our residents.
**Operating Hours:** 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Amenities:
- **Commons Area:** Community space for socializing, with books, games, and more.
- **Hygiene Facilities:** Showers, restrooms, toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste), and towels.
- **Meal Services:** Breakfast, snacks, coffee, and water are available daily. Volunteers often prepare lunch and dinner, though this is not guaranteed due to the lack of a kitchen. A soda machine is also available.
- **Clothing & Personal Items:** Clothing distribution and access to laundry facilities (machines and soap provided).
- **Health Services:** Basic first aid and over-the-counter medications are available. We also provide access to nearby health centers (Siouxland Community Health Center and Siouxland District Health) and offer Street Medicine services.
- **Support Services:**
- Resource and Advocacy Liaison on-site (Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
- Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (Tues/Thurs 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
- Goodwill Career Cruiser (Mon 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
- Domestic Violence Advocates (4th Tuesday of each month)
- Street Medicine (Tues/Thurs 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
- Other services with partner agencies available upon request.
- **Technology Access:** Free Wi-Fi, laptops, printers, and a telephone for resident use.
- **Security Measures:** 24/7 security camera monitoring, lockers for personal belongings, and direct care oversight provided by staff.
- **Family Services:** Private, lockable rooms and access to the Launchpad program. Additional family-focused services will expand with the launch of our Supporting Sheltered Children Program in May 2024.
- **Transportation Assistance:** Local bus passes for transportation to job interviews, work, and essential appointments. The RSVP program assists with scheduling Medicaid transportation.
Night Shelter
The Warming Shelter’s Night Shelter offers a comforting refuge, providing a warm place to sleep and rest for the night.
**Operating Hours:** 5:30 PM - 9:00 AM (Curfew for overnight shelter: 9:00 PM)
**Amenities:**
- **Sleeping Accommodations (Bunks):**
- 122 beds in 3 dorms and 6 family rooms.
- Large male dorm (51 beds), small male dorm (27 beds), female dorm (20 beds).
- 6 family rooms, each equipped with 4 bunks (24 beds in total for families).
- **Overflow Accommodations (Cots):** When all beds are full, the day shelter provides cots for additional residents.
- **Clean Linens:** Two clean sheets are provided each night for residents.
- **Hygiene Facilities:** Showers, restrooms, toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste), and towels.
- **Clothing & Personal Items:** Clothing distribution and laundry machines/soap are available.
- **Security Measures:** 24/7 security camera monitoring, lockers for personal belongings, and 24/7 direct care oversight.
Resource and Advocacy Liaison Services
Upon entering our shelter, residents undergo a comprehensive intake process led by our Resource and Advocacy Liaison. This process involves:
1. **Assessment:** Residents identify their needs and barriers to stable housing.
2. **Determination:** The liaison determines which resources can assist with overcoming these barriers.
3. **Planning:** A tailored plan is created, outlining steps to connect residents with the necessary resources.
4. **Implementation:** Both the liaison and resident follow through with the action steps outlined in the plan.
5. **Evaluation:** The plan is regularly evaluated during follow-up meetings, with adjustments made as needed to ensure progress.
Bridging the Gap
Our Resource and Advocacy Liaison is a crucial link between residents and local service providers. They attend weekly Coordinated Entry meetings to stay up-to-date with available resources and ensure seamless communication between various service providers. This ensures that residents have access to the best possible support while advocating for their needs within the community.
At The Warming Shelter, we are committed to helping residents take the necessary steps to exit homelessness and build a brighter future.
Current Project: Support Long-Term Sustainability with a New Laundry Facility
At The Warming Shelter, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for those in need. However, as we face financial challenges, one of our largest recurring expenses is laundry, costing us $4,000 a month. To support our efforts to long-term sustainability, we are launching this Big Give campaign to raise the necessary funds for on-site sheet laundering.
Not only would this significantly reduce our operational costs, but it would also provide employment opportunities for our residents, helping them gain valuable skills while contributing to the shelter’s daily operations. With your generous support, we can take a major step toward keeping our doors open and continuing to serve the community.
Every donation helps us get closer to our goal of remaining a vital resource for those experiencing homelessness. Please join us in making this vision a reality!
mattress revamp
Project Details
The primary objective of this event is to raise funds to replace 20-30 torn and tattered mattresses at the shelter with new clear cover mattresses. These mattresses are not only durable but also designed to prevent bed bugs, ensuring improved comfort, hygiene, and overall well-being for individuals seeking refuge at the shelter.
Project Objective:
The main goal of our fundraising event is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the vulnerable individuals seeking assistance at the Warming Shelter. By replacing the worn-out mattresses with new clear cover mattresses, we aim to enhance their quality of sleep, promote better physical health, and eliminate the risk of bed bug infestations. This project will play a crucial role in restoring dignity and hope for shelter residents.
Benefits and Impact:
1. Enhanced Comfort and Rest: The replacement of torn and tattered mattresses with new, high-quality clear cover mattresses will greatly improve the comfort and quality of sleep for shelter residents. Adequate rest is essential for their physical and mental well-being, enabling them to focus on rebuilding their lives.
2. Improved Hygiene and Safety: The clear cover mattresses are specifically chosen for their durability and bed bug resistance. By introducing these mattresses, we prioritize the health and safety of shelter residents, creating a clean and hygienic environment that helps prevent the spread of bed bugs and related health issues.
3. Empowerment and Dignity: Providing individuals with comfortable, bed bug-resistant mattresses demonstrates our commitment to their dignity and self-worth. This initiative will contribute to their overall well-being, empowering them to take positive steps toward self-sufficiency and independence.
This fundraising event aims to replace torn and tattered mattresses with new clear cover mattresses, providing improved comfort, hygiene, and safety for individuals in need. Through the support and generosity of our community, we can create a positive impact, offering a renewed sense of hope and dignity to those experiencing homelessness. Join us in making a difference by contributing to the Warming Shelter fundraising event, as we come together to build a compassionate and caring community for all.
Washers and Dryers for The Warming Shelter
Project Details
The Warming Shelter is excited to announce our 2022 Big Give fundraising goal!
This year we are raising funds with a huge goal of purchasing 4 new commercial washers and 4 new commercial dryers for our facility. It has been a LONG time coming. Our washers and dryers have without a doubt seen better days. Our facility currently houses 3 washers and 4 dryers, HOWEVER, we are currently down to 2 working washers and 1 working dryer. The estimated cost to fix the units that are not currently operating far exceeds the value of the units themselves.
Sadly, because of these circumstances, we are currently unable to allow our residents to use the facility washers and dryers for personal use to launder their own clothing. This is a service that we typically provide to individuals who are accessing our shelter. The majority of our residents take advantage of and appreciate the ability to utilize our washing machines and dryers at no cost. As you can imagine, this has been extremely detrimental to them.
Our hope is to have the ability to purchase 4 new washers and 4 new dryers in time for our upcoming winter season that is right around the corner and begins on November 1, 2022! Siouxland has in the past been been extremely supportive in helping us acheive our mission. We are shooting for the stars with this one! We hope that you will help us meet our goal! Our organization values you all! Thank you for helping us help those who need it the most!
Renovation Fundraising
Project Details
The Warming Shelter is raising funds to put towards
renovations that we are seeking to complete in hopes of increasing the functionality and
safety within our facility. We continuously seek to make changes that enable us to best serve our diverse population of residents.
The renovations that we are looking to complete will be geared towards families that are seeking emergency shelter within our facility,
and individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and needing emergency shelter.
First Aid/CPR Staff Training and Supplies
Project Details
The Warming Shelter is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization who assists individuals who are homeless during the coldest winder months of the year (November 1-April 30). Our shelter consists of a 116-bed facility serving men, women and families within in a trauma informed approach atmosphere. The staff at The Warming Shelter provide all types of care from resource referrals, basic needs and de-eseclation, among a few others. Due to our staff not being trained in CPR and First Aid, our staff would need to call EMS to provide any of these services; resulting in high inquiries, man power and hours for the city. Our goal for this funding is to be able to provide First Aid and CPR training to our staff members, along with the 2-year certification, as well as provide the staff the necessary supplies needed for first aid care. By providing First Aid and CPR training and certification to our staff members, those trained will be better equipped to provide care as needed to our residents; reducing EMS calls for first aid inquiries. If an emeregency does occur and an individual is in need of CPR, our staff will be equipped to provide this until emergency services arrive, in the hopes of saving an individuals life. We would like to continue to assist and serve our residents as best we can and this funding will enable our staff to do so.