Manitowoc Warming Shelter Secures New Winter Location at St. Paul Lutheran Church

The Manitowoc Warming Shelter has secured a new location for the upcoming winter season at St. Paul Lutheran Church. This move marks the shelter’s fifth season, beginning Nov. 11 and running through April 9. The transition was made possible after the Manitowoc Common Council approved a conditional use permit, allowing the shelter to operate in a building not originally intended for residential use.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 2601 S. 10th St., will serve as the shelter’s temporary home during the colder months. This arrangement follows a series of temporary locations the organization has used in the past. The decision reflects a broader effort to provide stability and safety for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter.

Council member Bill Schlei shared his personal experience volunteering with the shelter, emphasizing the human dignity and vulnerability of those who seek its services. He noted that many guests were not struggling with addiction but were simply navigating life without certainty. “What I did see was that people were scared, genuinely scared,” Schlei said. “Not knowing where they were going to sleep that night, not knowing if they were going to be alive the next day, not knowing where their next meal was going to come from. It really opened my eyes to their situation. We need to look at these people as people and help them.”

Ken Walters, president of the Steering Committee for the warming shelter, highlighted the impact of the shelter’s work. He noted that approximately 20% of guests from the previous year have since found permanent housing, crediting the shelter with providing the time and space needed to stabilize their lives. “That’s our mission, to help our brothers and sisters,” Walters said.

Both Walters and Pastor Matthew Sauer expressed gratitude for the city’s support, acknowledging the collaborative effort to ensure the shelter remains operational and continues its mission. “The city is not our enemy,” Walters said. “The city believes as we do, that we have to take care of the least of our brothers and sisters.”

The shelter’s work aligns with the biblical call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which urges believers to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. By providing a safe space during the winter months, the Manitowoc Warming Shelter reflects a commitment to neighbor-love and mercy.

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