(DODGE Co.) Cold nights are hitting harder this winter for people in Dodge County who have nowhere to go — and the safety net they once relied on is thinner than ever.
Both of Beaver Dam’s main homeless shelters are closed this season. That leaves people sleeping in cars, couch-hopping or relying on emergency hotel rooms just to stay warm. Right now, those hotel rooms are the last line of defense.
St. Vincent de Paul of Dodge County has stepped into that gap, but leaders say they urgently need monetary donations to keep up as temperatures drop.
“This year alone, we’ve spent more than $109,000 helping 304 households stay in their homes,” said Ben Nelson, store manager for St. Vincent de Paul of Dodge County. “Our goal is to stop evictions before families end up on the street.”
That prevention work includes covering rent, utilities and other emergency expenses. But when prevention isn’t enough, the organization turns to hotel vouchers — now the primary shelter option in the community.
So far this year, St. Vincent de Paul has helped 246 households with emergency hotel stays, totaling about $40,000.
Nelson said the growing need became impossible to ignore as calls to police, fire departments and city services increased. With public spaces like park bathrooms locking overnight, people were left with nowhere warm to go.
“That’s when the alarm bells went off,” Nelson said. “We realized we had people who literally had no place to be once buildings closed for the night.”
A community committee formed, and some donors stepped up with targeted funding to expand the hotel voucher program. But that funding won’t last without broader community support.
Unlike food or clothing donations, monetary gifts can be turned immediately into safe nights indoors. Every dollar goes directly toward hotel rooms for people who would otherwise be out in the cold.
“There are shelters elsewhere in the state,” Nelson said. “But that means uprooting your life and starting over somewhere new. We’re trying to help people stay in the community they already call home.”
Homelessness also brings costs many people don’t think about. Without a kitchen, families pay more for every meal. Without a stable place to sleep, it becomes harder to work, care for kids or stay healthy.
“It’s a hole that just keeps pulling families down,” Nelson said.
Community members can donate by mailing a check to St. Vincent de Paul of Dodge County and noting “emergency housing” in the memo line. In January and February, shoppers can also round up their purchases at St. Vincent thrift stores, with proceeds going directly to emergency housing. Those connected to the Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation can make direct transfers as well.
“If you can give money, that’s the fastest way to help,” Nelson said. “And if you can’t, shopping at the store still makes a difference.”
