GREEN BAY – St. John’s Ministries is set to open both its men’s and women’s shelters on Nov. 1 despite ongoing staff and volunteer shortages and expect to see a record number of guests.
The facilities, which are open six months a year for overnight shelter, saw a record 662 guests during the 2023 season , about a 10% increase from the year before, said executive director Jesse Brunette.
Brunette said he expects the trend to continue, potentially surpassing 700 guests.
“The last few years, we have seen record numbers of people served by us,” Brunette said. “We are always hopeful that the situation will improve and people will have housing and other shelter options, but what our recent history suggests is that we’re going to be encountering or serving record numbers of people again. So we’re preparing for that.”
Preparation for the season has included training on mental health and substance addiction, expanding the leadership team, adding an additional case manager and upgrading sleeping areas inside the shelters, Brunette said. The organization has also worked with several community providers to better understand what other agencies are doing to help individuals experiencing homelessness.