CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The warming center, run by Catholic Charities, is open only at night. The homeless check-in in the late afternoon, and leave the following morning. It’s an imperfect system. When people know it’s going to be a bitter cold evening, the line to register forms earlier in the afternoon – waiting outside in the elements for the warming center to open.
Most homeless shelters, like the one run by the Salvation Army, also insist that the able-bodied get up and get out during the day. It’s not intended to be a flop house. People are expected to look for work or otherwise be productive during waking hours.
Surely these facilities might allow people to stay all day during the coldest parts of winter. Actually, that’s easier said than done. They’re run mostly by volunteers who sign up to help during the evening. Staffing may not be available during the day.
We know of at least one homeless fatality in Wausau this winter. The victim was a drug addict, but there’s little doubt that sleeping outside in the cold was a contributing factor. And there’s a homeowner who’s called the radio station telling us that a homeless person died while sleeping under their porch. That hasn’t been confirmed yet.
There is one group, Open Door, which kept their shelter open round-the-clock on the coldest days. The city may give them a $50,000 grant so round-the-clock shelter is available during future winters.
Human decency says, yes, we should fund this.
There is also a lesson about how slow government is to respond to obvious problems. We’ve come up with a warming center solution, just as the weather starts to turn warmer.
Chris Conley
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