The Shelter and Housing program was created in 2017 when the Winona Community Warming Center was founded by a group of 18 concerned Winona community members formed what came to be known as the Steering Committee. This committee did all the work to get the Warming Center open including recruiting and organizing hundreds of unique volunteers to staff and run the Warming Center. Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota stepped in as the sponsoring agency to allow for the Warming Center to operate under 501.c.3 status. As the Emergency Shelter program expanded into Rochester and the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were able to shift to fully paid staff at all of our buildings.

Currently, the Housing and Shelter Program operates 6 different buildings in Winona and Rochester – four Emergency Shelters; the Winona Community Warming Center, Winona Community Day Center, Rochester Community Warming Center, and The Creek, and two long-term, supportive housing buildings; The 105 and The Francis. On any given day, we can serve up to 87 individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and 49 individuals who are on their path to secure stable, long-term, market rate housing.