Kenosha County – The Shalom Center, the county’s sole homeless shelter, announced on October 28 that it has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund. The grant, facilitated by the United Way of Kenosha County and United Way of Wisconsin, is earmarked to strengthen the shelter’s day‑to‑day operations and expand its complementary food‑security programs.
How the grant was secured
The United Way of Kenosha County identified Shalom Center as a strong candidate for the Community Responsive Fund, which focuses on organizations that provide short‑term and emergency shelter beds for people who are housing insecure. After the United Way of Wisconsin joined as a co‑intermediary, the nomination was submitted and reviewed against the Otto Bremer Trust’s eligibility criteria, which include nonprofit governance standards, financial thresholds and measurable program impact. Shalom Center met all requirements and was selected to receive the full $75,000 award.
Impact on shelter services
Executive Director Esther Roberts praised the partnership that made the award possible. “The United Way of Kenosha County has been a wonderful and collaborative partner in our work,” Roberts said. “We are honored that they nominated us for this opportunity. We are also grateful to the United Way of Wisconsin and the Otto Bremer Trust for investing in the communities we serve.” The grant will be used directly to enhance shelter operations, including additional bedding, staffing support and program resources that help residents transition to stable housing.
In 2025, Shalom Center provided 21,004 shelter nights for individuals and families. The new funding will help the organization maintain and grow that capacity, ensuring that Kenosha residents who have nowhere else to turn can find a safe place to sleep.
Beyond emergency shelter
Shalom Center also runs the county’s largest food pantry and its longest‑running nightly meal program. Those services feed hundreds of families each week, offering not only nutrition but also a point of connection to counseling, job‑training and other supportive services. By bolstering the shelter’s infrastructure, the grant indirectly strengthens these vital food‑security initiatives.
About the Otto Bremer Trust
The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1944, the trust has invested more than $1 billion in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin, focusing on projects that improve quality of life for residents. The Community Responsive Fund is one of the trust’s primary vehicles for directing resources to organizations that address pressing local needs, such as emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Community partnership
The United Way of Kenosha County’s role as a grant‑making intermediary underscores the importance of local collaboration. By connecting regional philanthropic dollars to a critical county service, the United Way helps keep essential resources within the community rather than allowing them to flow elsewhere.
Shalom Center’s mission—“serve the community through food, shelter, and supportive ways”—remains focused on helping individuals achieve self‑sufficiency. The recent grant represents a concrete step toward that vision, reinforcing the safety net that Kenosha families rely on during times of crisis.
Looking ahead
With the additional funding in place, Shalom Center plans to evaluate its shelter capacity, explore expanded family housing options and continue to grow its food‑distribution network. The organization invites volunteers, donors and local businesses to join its effort to keep Kenosha County’s most vulnerable residents safe and fed.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
