As Iowans experience another day under an excessive heat warning, there are some who don’t have a place to protect themselves from stifling conditions. One Sioux City non-profit is helping homeless people get through the week more safely.
The Warming Shelter serves the homeless in Sioux City, including former resident Tammy Bursell.
“I'm 52 years old, the mother of three, was homeless for a while and finally got on housing. I come here to do laundry. It's hard. I mean, I'm thankful that I got an apartment, but I have no air conditioning. I live on the top floor. And you know, heat rises. So, it's very hot,” said Bursell.
To help during the heatwave, the day shelter stayed open seven days a week instead of just a few. Today was the last day for expanded services.
Brittney Wilson is the assistant director of the Warming Shelter. She worries about others who don’t use the shelter.
“But a lot of shade has been cut down, their trees, so a lot of their refuge or methods of reprieve have been dwindling,” said Wilson.
Wilson says due to the excessive heat warning, the day shelter stayed open for a full week, instead of just a few days, to help a vulnerable population.
“We had announced that on May 1, however, we did not receive the funding that we had anticipated. And, so we were forced to make a decision, and we prioritized our winter season. It’s our mission is to keep people from freezing to death in the winter. So we had to minimize our focus for the summer and just have families and those who have extreme limited mobility," Wilson said.
Wilson says the shelter serves about 80 people per day, but she worries about the homeless who do not use the non-profit’s day services. She would like to keep the shelter in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but admits funding limits the outreach the Warming Shelter can provide.
“I can't even fathom because most are unwelcome at public places like parks and libraries. We've had a lot of donors graciously donate packs and packs of water. So, we're hopefully keeping everybody hydrated,” said Wilson.
Bursell found herself homeless after experiencing some life-changing circumstances.
“I had a boyfriend, we broke up, he kept the apartment, I moved out. And then things happened, and I lost my job and couldn't afford to pay rent. Well, last year, I was homeless for six months. And then, for the winter, I went down to Kansas because my little sister lives down there,” said Bursell.
The Warming Shelter offers respite for Bursell, who is thankful for her new apartment and a job she starts next week.
“We want a hand up, not a handout,” Bursell said.
