News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Christina Kihn, director of the Center of Charity, shows off the recreation room at the center’s facility in Alpena on Thursday. The center offers a host of services to Alpena-area residents who are struggling, including a warming shelter opened without a city permit.

ALPENA — The All Saints Catholic Parish Center of Charity has opened a homeless shelter in Alpena though the city has not approved a special use permit for the facility.

All Saints officials said the church can open its shelter at St. Bernard Church, 324 W. Chisholm St., under the doctrine of religious freedom.

“We are aware of their current plan to move forward with the shelter under the doctrine of religious freedom,” Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski said in an email to The News. “The location will be inspected for health and safety per City and State code specifically for occupancy, fire protection and building requirements; and we will be researching any additional requirements under our City ordinances.”

Smolinski said All Saints will have to abide by all the same codes and regulations any other business or charitable group has to follow.

Smolinski said the services provided by the center are badly needed in Alpena. She said the homeless situation in Alpena had gotten so bad people used the emergency room waiting room at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena to warm up and take a quick nap.

The Center of Charity offers temporary lodging, meals, recreation, and critical resources to help people who are struggling get back on their feet.

Christina Kihn, director of the Center of Charity, said the facility’s mission is to improve people’s lives by providing a safe space for all people to gather, eat, and be cared for with dignity.

She said the center has nine beds — it only provides quarters to men right now — and a recreation room, locker space, and other amenities.

Kihn said many people struggle daily to find the basics in life and don’t know where to go for help.

She said the Center of Charity provides that help.

“They can come and get help for whatever warriors they are facing,” she said. “We don’t care about what their background is or what their age or sex is. Whoever they are, we will work to help them with whatever problem they present to us.”

Phase one of the project began last winter, when All Saints attempted to open a warming shelter to help people escape the cold. All Saints worked with city officials to get a needed special use permit, but the city’s Planning Commission did not approve the church’s request.

The church decided to push on without the blessing of the city.

Smolinski said the warming shelter was a good idea, but some concerns expressed by the public caused the Planning Commission to table the permit. All Saints withdrew its application shortly afterward.

There are limitations to how much the Center of Charity can do.

Kihn said that, although many great volunteers lend a hand, there aren’t enough to offer services 24-7.

Currently, the Community Resource Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and again on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The homeless shelter, named the Emergency Resource Room, is open daily from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m.

The Friendship Room, which provides meals to people who are hungry, is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

“We don’t have the staffing to expand things, yet,” Kihn said. “We hope to expand soon, including being able to have both male and females in the shelter. Right now, we just aren’t able to.”

Kihn said people who want to learn more about the center, its services, and schedules can log on to alpenacatholics.com.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.