BLOOMINGTON – The largest woman’s homeless shelter in Bloomington will soon end its services due to a lack of funding.
Staff at the Wheeler Mission say it was a hard decision to make, but the need for services has expanded greatly during the past few years causing them to make some changes. The shelter can house up to 40 women a night.
The Mission has helped thousands of men and women experiencing homelessness, providing shelter and daily necessities and providing valuable information on healthcare, housing, employment, and sustainable income.
The women’s shelter’s last night of service is August 31, said Dana Jones, Director of Community Engagement at Wheeler Mission in Bloomington.
Since 2020, the shelter has served 365 women. They were able to stay open due to the city, county, and non-profits supporting them with extra funding. That funding has since run out.
No changes are expected for the men’s shelter – men still experience homelessness at a higher rate.
The Mission will now focus on its three-to-five-year plan to broaden services for the men.
Wheeler Mission is working with other social services agencies in the area to make sure the women they serve are taken care of. Women in the Bloomington area, in need of services, can reach out to Middle Way House and Friend’s Place.
