As temperatures get colder during the winter months, please know that warming centers (or short-term emergency shelters) are open when temperatures or a combination of precipitation, wind chill, wind and temperatures become dangerously inclement for those individuals without shelter.  Please note that some warming centers are for individuals only whereas others are intended for families.

You can dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 to contact a specialist about temporary entry to shelters.

Warming Centers are expected to open on December 4th and are open through March 31, 2024. Centers will be open from 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM and are open to individuals and families.  Here are some possible locations:

• Milwaukee County’s Hillview, 1615 S. 22nd Street

• Greater Galilee Baptist Church, 2432 N. Teutonia Avenue

• Guest House Milwaukee, 1216 N. 13th Street

• St. Ben’s, 930 W. State Street -- (Only if the temperature is 25 degrees that evening)

• Repairers of the Breach, 1335 W. Vliet Street

• The Milwaukee Rescue Mission, 830 N. 19th Street

  • Due to the low temperatures, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission opened on Monday, 11/27.

• Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church at 125 W. Saveland Ave, 53207. They are preparing to open on Friday, 12/1/23.  

Please note: Unaccompanied homeless youth ages 17+ can access warming center sites. When they do, the sites will contact IMPACT/211 and they will work with Pathfinders & Walker’s Point to get the youth a bed in one of the shelters.

*****Lastly, 211 will have the most current information as to which warming centers have openings. It is not required to call 211 for access to a warming center - individuals can walk-in. If they go to a warming center that is full, they would have to go to another site. In those cases, 211 will give a list of which locations they can try next.

Wisconsin Receives Federal Approval to Implement Housing Benefits

Stable housing is critical to improving health outcomes for children and families

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide housing support for low-income Wisconsin families in need. Those who are eligible include families with children 18 and younger and individuals who are pregnant who have low income (below 200% of the federal poverty level) and do not have housing. Wisconsin is the first state to implement this type of housing benefit through a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health Services Initiative (HSI). The HSI option allows states to use a portion of CHIP funding to implement initiatives that improve the health of vulnerable children.

“We are very excited to be able to provide housing support to Wisconsin families in need,” said DHS Secretary-Designee Karen Timberlake. “Research shows that stable housing is a crucial factor in health, and that health in childhood sets the foundation for positive life-long outcomes. Connecting families with supportive housing services not only helps them right now, but is a proactive measure that can build a better future for Wisconsin children.”

Those eligible will be able to access the following supportive housing services:

• Housing consultations that will prepare families by developing a housing support plan

• Transition supports that help families prepare for and make the move to new housing

• Relocation supports that provide financial support to help families move from temporary living spaces to their own housing

• Sustaining supports that assist families with keeping their housing, after they move

DHS will select homeless assistance providers to deliver the supportive housing services to eligible families. This includes one provider each in Dane, Milwaukee, and Racine counties, and five providers to serve the remainder of the state. Homeless assistance providers can apply through a request for applications that will be available on the DHS housing support services webpage in November.

To learn more about housing supports, visit the DHS website.

FOLLOW THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: 

https://www.cr-sdc.org/services/residential-services/milwaukee-rental-assistance-program