OSHKSOH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A homeless shelter in Oshkosh went over its normal capacity multiple times this year due to frigid temperatures.
At Day by Day warming shelter, bed mats are waiting to be slept on. But lately, not all guests had the chance to sleep on one.
“We’ve expanded to use wrestling mats, sleeping bags, anything so we can house more individuals,” said Matt Johnson, the executive director of Day by Day.
Johnson tells FOX 11 frigid conditions are bringing more people to the shelter.
“Absolutely, we’re seeing a lot more traffic coming through this season. We’ve seen more turn away this season as well.”
The shelter had to turn away 47 people in January, alone.
Johnson said lineup at the shelter starts at 6 PM. A normal day has a capacity of 25 people.
That’s the capacity the city of Oshkosh will allow, due to a temporary use permit.
“When we see below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, we actually enact an emergency protocol to where we add more beds to the shelter so that we can make sure other individuals, as well, are protected during that weather.”
During emergency protocol, a capacity of 38 people are allowed to spend the night.
“We only have 25 beds,” Johnson added.
“During this time when we are in an emergency protocol, we’re using larger space within the building, our gym facility.”
The shelter went into an emergency protocol recently from Saturday until Tuesday morning.
Johnson told FOX 11, this season so far, the shelter had to expand capacity 11 times.
Last year, it only happened twice.
“It’s a big increase compared to what we’ve seen in seasons past.”
The biggest needs at the shelter currently are backpacks, washcloths, and twin-size pillows.
Day by Day Warming Shelter is open 180 days a year, usually from October 15th to April 15th.
