Catholic Charities: Rochester warming center sees sharp rise in use, faces $170,000 funding shortfall

Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota told the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday that use of the Rochester Community Warming Center has increased substantially since the program opened in December 2019 and that funding gaps threaten an overflow site that keeps people from being turned away on cold nights.

The warming center’s executive director, John Myers, and shelter director Rudy Nall gave the update during the board’s informational items. They said the shelter was intended as a seasonal resource in 2019, expanded capacity in November 2020, and now routinely serves 75–80 people a night, with some nights approaching 90.

The growth matters because Catholic Charities runs the warming center as an emergency shelter and depends on state grants and donations to fill operating costs. “This year, the donation we need to raise is around 170,000 to cover those 2 warming centers and the day center,” John Myers said, describing the shortfall that covers multiple programs.…