By Robb Murray
MANKATO — When people look back on the evolution of the Theresa House shelter in Mankato, this period in time may be looked at as one of great change.
The shelter has recently merged with the Welcome Inn and is now under the umbrella of Partners for Affordable Housing. They’re still trying to find a new permanent location. In addition, they need to find a temporary location soon — within the next 30 days. A four- or five-bedroom house would suffice.
“Our timetable is moving up because we need more space,” said Pam Bartholomew, longtime director of Theresa House and now interim director of the new hybrid organization.
The shelter, which has 18 beds, is full. And their landlord, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, has asked them to move out so they can use the space for a seminary. The church has housed the shelter for all of its 13-year existence.
Bartholomew did not say the church is forcing them to leave, but she did say they need to relocate because “we have needs right now.” Bartholomew said that, together with their on-site shelter beds and their transitional housing, they have need for more space.
Brenda Roemhildt, executive director for partners for affordable housing, said homeless numbers in Mankato are getting worse. Foreclosures, she said, have forced homeowners to rent, which diminishes the number of available affordable rental units.
Last year Theresa House and Welcome Inn handled more than 1,000 requests for emergency housing. Between 70 and 80 percent of those requests came from the Mankato area. In the last fiscal year, Theresa House turned away 835 adults and children.
“We don’t have people living in tent cities,” Bartholomew said, “but we do have a growing homeless population ... and people are remaining homeless a lot longer than they used to be.”
Both Bartholomew and Roemhildt said they’ve seen cases of people spending a year or more without a home.
The new partnership between the Theresa House and the group under the Partners For Affordable Housing umbrella will allow the major groups in town to launch a joint effort at combating Mankato’s homeless problem. But it doesn’t mean the Theresa House, or even the Welcome Inn, will get lost.
“Theresa House will not lose any identity in this,” said Dave Cowan, a member of the Partners for Affordable Housing board of directors. “In fact, it might be enhanced.”
Meanwhile, the search continues for a permanent new home. Bartholomew said they have a location in mind, but she declined to reveal its location until a deal is done. If that happens, the building will need extensive remodeling and renovation.
