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St. John's Ministries reports record shelter demand, eyes conditional-use revision to add capacity
Summary
Saint John's Ministries told the committee it saw record nightly shelter demand, a 31% increase in daytime service visits, and is preparing a conditional-use permit revision to add capacity if needed.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Saint John's Ministries reported to the Protection & Policy Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, that it experienced record nightly demand during the recent shelter season and increased daytime visits after shifting its daytime resource centers to a warming-center model.
"Our emergency shelter season runs from November 1 until the April," said Jesse Burnett, executive director of Saint John's Ministries. Burnett told the committee the shelters saw record numbers per night; he said the agency came "pretty darn close" to the women's permitted capacity, recording 57 women on one night and "50 plus 16 nights." City limits currently allow 140 men at the men's shelter and 58 women at the women's shelter, Burnett said.
Burnett said the organization increased leadership, security and case-management resources during the season and shifted daytime centers (Mica Center and Wellspring) toward a warming-center model, which produced a 31% increase in visits over the six-month period. He described efforts to redirect people to shelter services and daytime case management instead of remaining in public parks.
Burnett said Saint John's plans to submit a conditional-use permit revision this summer to prepare for a modest increase in capacity — "maybe a dozen more women, if needed" — while acknowledging he hopes the additional capacity will not be required. The committee voted to receive the report and place it on file.
Burnett and committee members discussed broader drivers of homelessness, including housing affordability and regional trends in homelessness increases reported by HUD, and the agency's ongoing strategic planning for longer-term solutions.
