Apr. 7, 2022 9:15p
(WGTD)---Kenosha’s safety net is getting stronger.
The Shalom Center—the city’s primary shelter and food pantry on 39th Ave.—is expanding. The announcement from Shalom Center Director Tamarra Coleman came at the non-profit’s 40th anniversary celebration held Thursday night at UW-Parkside. "It's going to be more of a resource center that will allow for us to serve people with wrap-around services with case management," Coleman said. "People will now have a starting point where they can come and say 'I need something'."
People in need of energy or rental assistance will be able to get help, and the 10,500 sq. ft. addition will also serve as a warming center in the winter and a cooling center in the summer. "I'm a firm believer that it is not the hospitals' and libraries' responsibility to take care of the homeless when it's cold outside or if it's too warm outside. We will now have space to fully do that."
The $2.4 million addition is already paid for, thanks to a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
Other agencies are expected to get involved, such as the Kenosha Community Health Center, which provides low or no-cost health, dental and behavioral services.
Coleman said she'll be asking Kenosha County's Human Services Dept. to help staff the center.
"We're going to get people off the street. That's our job--to take care of people that have no where to go, but we're also going to take care of people that don't know where to go," she said.
The resource center will also have washers and dryers. "The actions are endless of what we can do in this facility," Coleman said.
Construction is expected to start next month.
Coleman says she’s not aware of a comparable facility anywhere in the area.
-0-