Help to Keep The Shelter Open
Since December 2021, The Bridge on 7th has provided over 12,000 nights of safe shelter to our community, with 92% of guests coming from Crow Wing and nearby counties.
Recent camping bans in Brainerd and Baxter leave unhoused individuals without safe overnight options when The Bridge closes. To address this urgent need, Bridges of Hope requested an Interim Use Permit (IUP) renewal to continue operations for three more years, including a summer pilot in 2025. This request will be brought before the Brainerd City Council on April 7th, 2025.
Closing The Bridge during summer months won't eliminate homelessness or reduce police calls—it will scatter the issue across the city. A year-round shelter, with oversight from local agencies, is a compassionate, practical solution for community safety and dignity.
We need your support to keep The Bridge open year-round.
How You Can Help
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Contact City Council Members: Email or call and urge their support for The Bridge’s summer pilot. (See below for contact information, ward map, and testimony guide).
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Write a Letter to the Editor: Share your personal connection or express why The Bridge matters to you. Submit by March 26 or April 2 (Wednesdays by 3 p.m.) to the Brainerd Dispatch. Email to submit letter is, readeropinion@brainerddispatch.com.
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Spread the Word: Share accurate information about The Bridge with your neighbors, friends, and through social media to counter misinformation. Use Bridges of Hope's social media to reshare posts about the shelter. (Use our FAQ Guide to minimize misinformation when posting).