OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An Oshkosh warming shelter will resume its normal operations after the county briefly took over during a staffing shortage.
The Day by Day Warming Shelter temporarily transformed into an emergency shelter, operated by Winnebago County employees during a recent cold snap.
Day by Day staff expressed safety concerns from drug use among shelter residents, forcing some to quit.
While Winnebago County kept the shelter open for those who needed a warm place to stay, Day by Day employees focused on training and establishing healthy boundaries and safety.
“We are grateful for the support of the city and the county in helping the shelter through this challenging time. Our team is ready to take the reins back, and assume operations. We want to assure the community that we simply needed time to reset, and deal with staffing shortages, as well as some poor choices and behaviors we were seeing among some guests. Our team is extremely qualified to handle these issues going forward in a compassionate but firm manner,” said executive director, Molly Butz.
The shelter will resume its normal operations on Monday, Jan. 9.
Meanwhile construction on a new shelter, located at 420 Ceape Ave., is expected to be complete in April 2023.
The new single-story shelter will be 12,900 square feet upon completion and will include enhanced security, a full fire suppression system, be ADA compliant and have a 50-bed capacity. Shelter will be available and open 365 days of the year. Additional amenities will include: showers, a learning/computer lab, conference and classroom space, administrative offices, warming kitchen, beds that are off the floor, on-site storage, a walk-in refrigerator and freezer and on-site laundry facilities.
Comments