March 2026

Winter Warming Locations Wrap-Up

As we approach the end of the warming season, we want to recognize the critical role warming rooms have played in keeping our community safe during the coldest months of the year.

These spaces have not only offered immediate relief from dangerous weather conditions but have also served as an important entry point to connect individuals and families to shelter and longer-term housing resources. This season, we’ve seen strong coordination efforts to transition people, especially families and parenting youth, into more stable shelter placements as quickly as possible.

The data also highlights the wide range of individuals impacted, including young adults, older adults, and veterans, all of whom relied on warming services for safety and support.

While warming rooms are a vital, life-saving resource, they are a temporary solution. As warming operations wind down on April 1, many individuals will face renewed challenges in securing safe and stable shelter. This underscores the ongoing need for increased access to affordable housing and year-round shelter capacity, particularly for families and survivors of domestic violence.

An evening at the Unity Lutheran Church warming winter location in November 2025.

Community support makes this work possible. To help ensure warming rooms can continue to open their doors in future seasons, consider making a donation. Since November 1, over $4,000 has been raised, helping cover essential costs like staffing, laundry services, and daily operations.

These efforts would not be possible without the dedication of our partners and community members. We are deeply grateful for the collaboration that makes this work possible.

Final results from Milwaukee’s 2025–2026 Winter Warming Locations efforts will be shared in an upcoming newsletter.

Strengthening Housing Advocacy in Milwaukee

Supported by funding from the Zilber Foundation, the Shelter and Transitional Housing Taskforce has spearheaded targeted advocacy efforts to educate the community about the instability of federal funding and to address gaps in the housing safety net. This initiative aims to create greater local funding resilience and encourage broader stakeholder responsibility for housing security in Milwaukee.

A major focus of this work included multiple strategic briefings. During these sessions, the Task Force brought together Milwaukee business and community leaders, philanthropy partners, and landlords to highlight

Pictured are presenters from the Local Business Districts Session held on February 24th. From left to right - Beth Lappen and Eric Collins-Dyke, Milwaukee County Housing; Matt Dorner, MKE Downtown; Stephen Bauer, Guest House; Dax Odom, City of Milwaukee Attorney's Office; Emily Adams-Whitcomb, Advocacy Project Consultant, Shelter and Transitional Housing Taskforce. 

funding challenges and their impact on local housing stability. By developing comprehensive policy materials and facilitating these conversations, the Taskforce is helping to elevate the dialogue around homelessness. This work demonstrates that strong shelter and transitional housing systems are essential not only to individual well-being but also to the broader economic vitality of the community.

As the Task Force looks to the future, these advocacy initiatives are transitioning into a more permanent and structured capacity. This work will be integrated into a newly created advocacy position at United Way. This transition ensures that the concerns of shelter and transitional housing providers receive consistent, long-term attention and resources. It also strengthens the collective voice within the Continuum of Care and supports the advancement of sustainable policy solutions.

More information on the task force’s ongoing efforts and resources can be found at sheltertaskforcemke.com. The Task Force would like to thank Emily Adams-Whitcomb for her leadership in this work.