Shawano Area Matthew 25 is going into its 10th year of having an emergency shelter during the colder months of the year, and Kendra Brusewitz has been there since the beginning.
Now, after volunteering with the organization all this time, Brusewitz is taking charge of SAM25 as its executive director. She hopes to bring her experience with the Shawano County Human Services Department into her new position, which also manages the free clinic, resource center and thrift store that fall under SAM25’s umbrella.
“It really spoke to me and my goals, both personally and professionally,” Brusewitz said.
She noted it has been a transition going from a volunteer to being the one in charge of the volunteers.
“They’re the ones who keep this place running,” Brusewitz said. “We’re so grateful to have them. We love working with them.”
Shawano has a large homeless population, Brusewitz said, and it’s her mission to make sure people are aware that there are folks in need in the community.
“I think that’s something that needs to be brought to the community’s attention, and people are homeless for a variety of reasons, whether it be they have mental health conditions, substance abuse, they lost a job unexpectedly or they ran into a financial snag somewhere,” Brusewitz said. “We’re just providing a nonjudgmental place where they can have a safe place to get back on their feet and connect them to the resources they need.”
Brusewitz is taking over for Hung Nguyen, who became the executive director in 2023 but lasted less than a year. She is the third person to take the position in the last two years.
Brusewitz hopes to eventually move the shelter beyond just being an emergency facility. Currently, the shelter operates from November through April, but she would like to see it continue during the warmer months as well, as homelessness is not a seasonal issue.
“A long-term goal is to extend those months that we can be in service for an overnight shelter,” Brusewitz said. “Right now, it’s just creating that community awareness. If the community doesn’t know it’s a problem, they’re not going to support SAM’s mission.”
The need for SAM25 has grown throughout the years, and the organization has grown with it, according to Brusewitz. The homeless shelter had to move to another facility a few years ago, because the need had increased so much.
“I think they grew really fast, so now we’re looking at strengthening what we have,” she said, noting those programs need to be solid before SAM25 looks at expanding.
The resource center, which helps those in need find jobs and housing, also provides showers and laundry facilities. It currently sees anywhere from 40-60 people per week, according to Brusewitz.
“It’s really getting out there and serving more people,” she said.
Brusewitz said she sees her job as also working to make sure there’s enough housing in the area for those looking. The city of Shawano provided some good news on that front after announcing Oct. 9 that work was underway on eight new single-family homes and 60 apartments.
“While we love having them in the shelter and providing that safe place, our ultimate goal is just to be a stepping stone,” Brusewitz said. “We want to teach them skills so that they can live on their own. This year, we’re focused on our Steps to Success (program), which didn’t happen last year. It’s a program that teaches how to pay a bill, how to have a successful job interview, just those life skills they might not have or have never been taught, just to make sure they become self-sufficient.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
SAM25 hires new executive director
