Brainerd, Minnesota, council approves year-round operation for Bridge on 7th homeless shelter

The Brainerd City Council voted unanimously Monday night to allow the Bridge on 7th homeless shelter to operate year round, a year after it rejected a similar request. The council approved an interim use permit for the shelter, which is run by the nonprofit Bridges of Hope.

The overnight shelter has provided a warm place for adults experiencing homelessness to spend the night for more than four years. It is open from September through April. On April 30, 2025, beds were ready for guests on its last night of operation before it closed for the summer.

Last year, the council rejected a request to let the shelter operate through the summer, which sparked a community debate. Council members and the police chief voiced concerns that the shelter draws people from outside the community. Some community members worried that, without the shelter, people would not have a safe place to stay. The city adopted a ban on camping on public property in 2024.

Bridges of Hope re-applied for a year-round permit this year after working to address city officials’ concerns. Council members praised the collaborative effort to add safeguards and address those concerns. Council President Mike O’Day said, “We’re miles beyond where we were a year ago.” He added, “We’re trying to take care of our community and the most vulnerable, but not every other community besides our own.”

Jana Shogren, executive director of Bridges of Hope, said the nonprofit has improved its collaboration with other community organizations that serve people in need. One result is a program called Pathways, which connects shelter guests to community services. Shogren said people who stay at the shelter will be required to agree to a personalized plan within three to five days. The plan addresses housing, employment, mental health, chemical dependency or other issues that might be barriers.

Bridges of Hope also worked with Brainerd Police Chief John Davis to develop a safety plan. The plan guides how the shelter responds to behavior problems or potentially dangerous situations, and it sets clear expectations for staffing, supervision and training. Shogren said, “All of this reflects a more coordinated and accountable approach to operating the shelter safely, and it builds on everything we’ve learned over the past four and a half years” (Proverbs 11:1).

The permit allows the shelter to operate year round for one year, until April 30, 2027. The council can revoke the permit if the police department decides the shelter has been used in a “disorderly manner.”

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