BRAINERD — The overnight warming shelter for those experiencing homelessness in the Brainerd lakes area has reopened as of Monday, Sept. 1.
The Bridge on 7th shelter operated by the faith-based nonprofit Bridges of Hope opened its doors in south Brainerd for the fifth season. The shelter operates nightly from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. from September through May.
The Bridge offers guests who are 18 or older a place to sleep, personal necessities provided by donors and support from trained staff. Organizers say that since its inception in 2021, the program has helped more than 530 individuals and supplied nearly 13,500 nights of shelter.
“The Bridge on 7th is more than just a shelter, it’s a place where guests are seen, heard and supported,” stated Jana Shogren, executive director of Bridges of Hope, in a news release. “Our goal is to meet each person where they’re at, offering not just a bed for the night, but a connection to something more.”
Typically, the shelter has not been open between the months of May and August. But earlier this year, the organization sought a change to the permit to keep it open year-round.
The request came after the city councils in Brainerd and Baxter instituted camping bans on public property in 2024. But the Brainerd City Council denied the request to stay open, citing concerns that included the resource attracting people from outside the community or creating public safety issues.
This prompted dozens to speak out in favor of the shelter at multiple council meetings and on the street outside city hall, while shelter leaders noted this left some of the most vulnerable without a legal place to sleep.
The shelter must also now return annually to request to renew its permit instead of every three years as a result of council action.
Those interested in learning more about the shelter, including a list of needed items for donations or how to volunteer, may visit the Bridges of Hope website.
-
Contributed/Jeff EdmondsGet to know the volunteers behind the mic on KAXE. This week we find out more from On the River host Jeff Edmonds -
Lorie ShaullA heat dome is setting up over the Upper Midwest, bringing temperatures significantly above normal and holding off rain. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Sweet Megg, Mexican Institute of Sound and Meridian Brothers, Telehealth, Nathan Evans Fox, Mina Moore, Caroline Rose and Kara McKee. Plus Parliament in '76. -
Lorie ShaullGaitas will assume leadership of the state's highest court on Oct. 1, 2026, replacing outgoing Chief Justice Natalie Hudson. -
Contributed/CLCMinnesota State Colleges and Universities' board of trustees named Kimberly Lynch as the interim president, to begin July 1, 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAs northern Crow Wing County residents address damage from the May 16, 2026, Flanders Fire, officials remind residents of common contractor scams. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerInput costs are rising due to the trade war and the Iran war. Eight farmers have already filed for bankruptcy this year, double the amount for the entire year of 2024. -
Plus: Minnesota State's board of trustees names new interim president for Central Lakes College; Gov. Tim Walz appoints Theodora Gaitas as next Supreme Court Chief Justice; and the U of M Extension is offering free well test kits in the Brainerd area. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 25.
-
Contributed/Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Abrams BooksChildren’s librarian Tracy Kampa reviews books by Maya Myers, Richard "Bugman" Jones, Huda Al-Marashi, Matthew Swanson and N. West Moss.
