Supporters of Shelter Petition

The Church and Society Team are encouraging members and friends of First Church who are residents of Kenosha County to sign the Emergency Weather Petition created by SOS (Supporters of Shelter).  This petition is to encourage City Council members and the County Board of Supervisors to create a cold weather emergency plan for the unhoused of our county.  Kenosha County is one of a few counties in Wisconsin that does not have a cold weather emergency plan.

We know the first few months of 2026 were extremely cold.  The extreme weather was life threatening.  The options for overnight shelter are few in Kenosha County.

1. Shalom Center - does not have beds.  They are at capacity and have a wait list.

2. Hope Hub at Shalom Center - can take up to 13 persons per night.

3. Hotel/Motel Vouchers provided by Kenosha Human Development Services.  They used up their $25,000 2026 budget along with a $10,000 gift given by a church.  There are no more funds for the rest of the year for hotel/motel vouchers.

4. Immanuel UMC stepped up and opened their building with the leadership of the SOS Team.  They housed up to 40 persons on an evening (past their room capacity).

5.  There were still people out in the cold (some who did not know about options and some who live in their cars and some who would not use a shelter under any circumstance).

   
   

There have been people involved in trying to work with the city and county for more than 10 years with small steps of progress, but nowhere near what is needed for our area and to care for our neighbors.

Please consider signing the petition.  Our signatures and others from the community will be presented to the City Council and County Board of Supervisors the week of April 19. 

In the Great Room and Welcome Center, there will be members of our Church and Society team on Sunday mornings to answer any questions you might have about this petition and shelter for the unhoused in Kenosha County.