Emergency Shelter House Manager Provides Report for Tribal Membership

By Rachael Fleming Emergency Shelter House Manager

The Lac Courte Oreilles Emergency Shelter (formerly known as the Lac Courte Oreilles Emergency Women's Shelter) has undergone several significant changes, with one of the changes being that we now house men, women, and families who are experiencing homelessness instead of only women and children.

This change took place in May of 2024 when the Men's Shelter of Lac Courte Oreilles had begun their renovations to become the new Men's Sober Living Facility, known as "Endazhi-noojimong", which translates in Ojibwe as "Our Place of Recovery". Because renovations were underway, our facility planned and opened the left wing to house the (7) individuals (men). Plans for other changes are underway.

Working alongside the Tribal Governing Board, the Grants Department (Jordan St Germaine/Mary Revoy-Lopez), and Rebecca Williams (Tribal Nations Opioid Abatement Efforts Program, Program Coordinator), we proposed plans to change the facilities' name from the LCO Emergency Women's Shelter to the LCO Emergency Shelter because we would now not only house women and children, but also men, who are experiencing homelessness.

The facility would not have specific programming but would serve as a place for those tribal members who are experiencing homelessness, to which they could opt for temporary stay or overnight shelter, if applicable. Temporary stays will consist of a tribal individual or family having placement for up to (90) days per calendar year, with stay extensions that will be on a case-by-case basis. For the warming shelter/overnight stays, tribal members (18 yrs and older) will receive a cot, pillow, and blankets to sleep in the general area from 10pm - 7am unless there is a winter weather advisory or other exception made by management or the Tribal Governing Board. The overnight stays will have access to warm up food via microwave. Non-perishable foods and water will also be available for the overnight tribal members in need.

The Emergency Shelter is planning to get a new, refreshed look with newly painted office spaces, bathrooms, and a newly renovated kitchen area soon.