Duluth homeless shelter expansion advances but still needs help

DULUTH — Chum hosted a news conference and lunch Friday to announce and celebrate its plans to begin an ambitious expansion.

So far, the nonprofit has secured $10 million in funding for its homeless shelter's expansion — $2 million in federal support and another $8 million from the Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services.

While that's certainly enough to get construction started come spring, Chum likely will need at least another $1.2 million to get the project across the finish line, according to John Cole, the organization's executive director.

Chum's need for more space at the shelter remains indisputable.

The shelter was built in 1998 as a facility designed to accommodate up to 30 people experiencing homelessness.

Today, the center is asked to do much more, Cole said.

"It feeds 115 people every morning. It provides a place to rest for an average of 125 people every day," he said. "It provides bathrooms, showers, laundry opportunities, general health care and twice-a-week health care clinics."

But Cole said the center has struggled to meet the Northland's growing need for shelter and support services.

"Every year, as more and more people fall into homelessness and come through that door, the overcrowding continues to grow," he said, acknowledging that the available space is no longer adequate.

Cole said Chum plans to expand the footprint of the current facility within the bounds of its current site and also aims to add two additional floors to its existing building. When the sawdust settles, the facility will double its capacity from 80 to 160 beds. He said there also will be more space to deliver support services and to grant guests a bit more privacy.

"Privacy is everything," said Colleen Rock, a Chum resident. "There is no quiet place to read. There is no quiet place to think.

"I cry myself to sleep every night, because all I see are people who are in need. I fear for them that the next step for them may not be a positive one, and I fear for their lives. I fear for my friends."

Cole said the shelter expansion should enable Chum to provide a better experience and improved services for its guests. But he also acknowledged the transition period will be hard. He said the current shelter could be out of commission for 18 months as work takes place.

During that time, Chum is hoping to relocate its shelter to the top floor of the Damiano Center , with financial help to remodel the space coming from St. Louis County and the city of Duluth.

Shelter expansion support will mostly come from another source.

In 2023, the state awarded $100 million in funding through a competitive proposal process for emergency shelter providers. The demand for those resources far outstripped Minnesota's ability to support those operations.

In all, Minnesota received requests from more than 100 organizations, cumulatively seeking more than $365 million in aid, according to Annie McCabe, a grant manager in the homelessness, housing and support services administration of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

But she said Chum's request stood out from the crowd, as the shelter is the largest Minnesota facility north of the Twin Cities providing congregate shelter and care.

Joel Kilgour, project manager of Stepping On Up, a local multi-organization initiative to end homelessness in Duluth, said the Chum shelter was not designed for the number of people currently experiencing homelessness, nor for long stays, which now often exceed a year before people can find stable long-term housing.

He noted that the insufficient number of beds at Chum leads to many guests spending the night sleeping in chairs or on the floor.

"We can do better than this for our neighbors," Kilgour said.

But he said one organization continues to lead the way.

"Chum has always been that anchor in our homeless-response system here downtown, and it will continue to be one of those anchors, moving forward," Kilgour said. "Yes, we need to build a housing system that works for everyone. But when people do fall into homelessness, they need a safe and dignified place to be."

Annie Harala, who represents Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood on the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, said local officials continue to try to keep their focus on people experiencing homelessness. "This is not an us-versus-them mentality. This is a situation where we need all hands on deck to find ways for people to be housed, have dignity and have hope."

Duluth City Council President Roz Randorf referred to Chum as "a vital partner" and the community's "largest safety net." She noted that the organization serves more than 9,000 low-income and homeless people annually. And Randorf described those individuals receiving help as "our family and our neighbors."

She described supporting Chum and its work as "a collective responsibility" and urged residents to offer their financial support to the organization at chum.org.