Jesse Osmer

ALPENA — Only one person utilized the new warming shelter at the Alpena County Fairgrounds from Christmas Eve until Monday morning, Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer said.

People involved in the opening of the shelter and its operations say they expect the local homelessness community has not yet received word that the shelter has opened.

According to a St. Vincent de Paul press release on Dec. 16, there are approximately 100 people in Alpena County who are experiencing acute homelessness.

The announcement that the shelter was opening came late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and organizers hope the numbers will climb as word about it spreads and the frigid temperatures return.

Tom LaCross, a board member for the All-Saints Center of Charity and St. Vincent de Paul, said he was unsure how many people would utilize the shelter initially because of how quickly it opened. He said the hope is more people will take advantage of the amenities at the Merchant’s Building so they have a warm and dry place to sleep.

“I didn’t really have any expectations, but I figured we would either have a flood of people rush in, or the numbers would be low until the news got out about it,” LaCross said. “I also think because it was Christmas, the weather was mild, many people had already settled in for the night.”

Osmer said he was a little taken aback by the low turnout, but added he knew it would take time for the news of the shelter opening to spread. He said he is hopeful more people will use the shelter, but if not, the current plan would have to be reconsidered.

“It opened kind of abruptly, and I’m sure it isn’t easy for people to truck across town to get to it,” he said. “However, I will be disappointed if we get to Jan. 2 and we only have one or two people. If it remains this way through next week, we probably have to evaluate this.”

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners have a special meeting slated for Jan. 2 where St. Vincent de Paul is expected to provide the commissioners an update on the shelter.

The county committed $15,000 from its 2025 budget and committed the same amount for the 2026 fiscal year. The county also provided the use of the Merchant’s Building to help open and operate the temporary shelter. The City of Alpena allocated $5,000 toward the shelter project.

Also, LaCross said just because someone is homeless, doesn’t mean they will utilize a shelter. He said there are many people who have lost trust in the government, charities, and even the community.

“Some of them just don’t want to come. They just don’t and refuse,” LaCross said. “Now, others will use it because they know it is a better situation for themselves.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.