The tough economic times have taken many in Michiana to the breaking point.

Organizations in Warsaw say that’s a big reason they’ve put together the first homeless shelter to serve Kosciusko County in the last five years. The unemployment rate, that had been at a steady, healthy level there for years, is now up to around 7%.

The Salvation Army says the homeless population in Warsaw isn't visual out on the streets; it's people that are living in their cars or in abandoned homes.

With winter coming into full force, they say the need for a shelter was becoming desperate.

“We had a call from a woman just last week… She said, ‘I'm homeless I have four kids with me, right now I’m living out of my car, when are you guys going to open?’ And that’s tonight,” said John Lowe III with New Life Christian Church in Warsaw.

Monday night will be the first of 90 nights that the New Life Christian Church's gymnasium will become a homeless shelter.

“We don’t want to have a situation where first of all someone freezes to death in a car, or they’re asphyxiated. That’s unacceptable, in any situation,” said Ken Locke, with the Salvation Army, which teamed up with the church to get the temporary shelter up and running through the end of February.

The hope is, aside from possibly saving a life, a few nights and a few meals might put someone back on their feet.

“It’s ‘I’m out of work and I’m stuck in this situation,’ and sometimes a place to stay, a meal, and equipping them maybe with a contact that’s looking for someone who wants to work; that’s all they need, and that’s what we're trying to do,” Lowe III said.

The last homeless shelter in Kosciusko County was also in the church 5 years ago. Then, no more than 14 people stayed on any given night.

But based on what they've heard, the shelter will need to be ready to handle many more than that.

“We really don’t know how many will show up tonight. We’re planning right now for at least 20, and we have up to 40 that we can help. But we’re ready for 20 for sure,” Locke said.

They say while the shelter is temporary, the problem likely isn't.

“This is the short term solution and then were going to sit down as the Salvation Army along with the other groups that have been involved with this, to look at long term solutions in Kosciusko County, to address homelessness,” Locke said.

The Salvation Army says they plan to meet in January to discuss a more permanent solution; such as a permanent shelter, or at least one that's available year-round to deal with the increasing need.

The shelter will be open from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am and will serve dinner and breakfast.

People won't be allowed to stay during the day, but they will be provided transportation to and from the police and sheriff's departments in Warsaw.

For more information, contact the Salvation Army at (574) 267-5361 or the New Life Christian Church at (574) 269-5851.