Board approves dollar lease of depot building as winter warming center operated by NEST

La Porte’s Board of Public Works and Safety voted Jan. 22 to approve a short-term lease of the city-owned depot building to NEST (a nonprofit shelter operator) to operate a winter warming center through the end of March for a nominal $1 payment.

The lease was presented by Nick Otis, who said the arrangement provides a “much needed option for short term housing” during extreme cold and that the city and partner organizations handled utilities and operations on a temporary basis. The motion to approve passed after a voice vote; the board recorded no opposition.

The action follows several days last week in which NEST and local partners opened the depot as an emergency shelter. Harry Holtkamp of NEST said the group has operated shelters in Michigan City for decades and described the depot site as a connection point to services rather than a hotel: “This isn’t a flop house. We’re not calling it a hotel. This is a connection to services with care and compassion on the front end,” he said. Holtkamp told the board that NEST had received about 70 volunteer applications after a weekend call for help and that volunteers and partners provided 38 meals across three nights; he said NEST believes the operation has “saved 10 lives so far” during the recent cold weather.

City staff and speakers thanked a list of local companies and agencies that assisted with winterizing and operating the depot, including Dye Plumbing and Heating, Norfolk Southern, NIPSCO, the City of La Porte Water Department, Center Township Trustee’s office, and volunteers. Center Township Trustee Lisa Peercykowski and local volunteer Annette Loeffler were cited by Otis and others for their roles in shelter operations and client handoffs.

The lease is a short-term, nominal-dollar agreement that runs to the end of March; the board’s action authorizes the city to execute the document and place the recorded lease on file. Staff said the arrangement is intended as an initial demonstration of the depot’s suitability as a warming center while partners pursue a longer-term, permanent site and additional mental-health supports. NEST personnel and trustee staff described referral pathways into the shelter (trustee office, library referrals, emergency services and walk-ins) and encouraged donations and volunteer help for tasks such as laundry, housekeeping and meal delivery.

The board’s approval came with no additional funding commitments; city and partner representatives said many of the immediate operational needs have been supplied by in‑kind donations and volunteer labor. The board did not set new long-term policy in this vote and indicated future, more permanent housing or shelter options would return for separate review or agreements.