Members of NUMAS Haus staff and board of directors accepted a $250,000 grant from from South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) Friday. The group gathered outside the former First United Methodist church, which NUMAS is working to renovate into additional shelter space. (L to R) NUMAS office coordinator Lorna Cotner, NUMAS board vice president Tim Knaak, NUMAS board member Tom Henderson; SCHA executive assistance Andrea McGregor; SCHA Scott Windschitl; NUMAS executive director Nichole Schmiesing, NUMAS case manager Amanda Hall; SCHA CEO Leota Lind, NUMAS program coordinator Beth Zabel; NUMAS board member Heidi Suess and NUMAS board member Kristi Andersen Loose.

NEW ULM – The New Ulm Ministerial Association Shelter (NUMAS) is within $140,000 of reaching its $1.06 million campaign thanks to a $250,000 grant award from South Country Health Alliance (SCHA), Friday.

SCHA is a county-owned health plan. There are seven counties in the organization. Recently, SCHA began distributing $2.16 million in funds through a community impact program. A total of 15 organizations in SCHA received project funding. NUMAS Haus received one of the maximum awards of $250,000.

“Over the years, South Country has reinvested in our communities when our financial conditions allowed,” Leota Lind, SCHA CEO said. “We are proud to present the NUMAS HAUS with this $250,000 grant to support its mission of providing shelter, food and rehabilitative services to homeless women and their children in Brown County.”

“NUMAS Haus is deeply grateful for the generous $250,00 grant,” NUMAS Haus Executive Director Nichole Schmiesing said. “This incredible support brings us one step closer to expanding our shelter, ensuring the neighboring church building, First United Methodist Church. We are renovating the space to add housing for three to five more families.”

Before the check was presented to NUMAS, members SCHA were treated to a tour the renovation process in the former church.

NUMAS Haus office coordinator Lorna Cotner provided history on the shelter. In 2013, area pastors became aware of growing homeless population in Brown County. There were over 40 children in the school district with no permanent address.

“Homelessness looks different here,” Cortner said. “It’s not always what you imagine it to look like.”

In Brown County it presents as couch hopping, living in a car or a tent in a park.

Once area churches became aware of the problem, they agreed to pool their resources to create a shelter for women and children in need of a place to stay.

NUMAS Haus officially opened in 2016, using a house belonging to First United Methodist. NUMAS is able to house three families at a time. They runs a 90-day program, which connects families to education, resources, employment, mental health services and housing within the community. After a 90-day stay, NUMAS Haus remains in contact with guests for two years to offer additional support if needed.

The program has a nearly 70% success rate, but the need has been greater than the space available. In late 2023, the NUMAS had a chance to expand operation into the church at Center and Broadway.

In 2024, NUMAS began a campaign to raise $1.06 million to renovate the former church. The $250,000 donated by SCHA brings the project much closer to reality.

NUMAS Haus board vice president, Tim Knaak said without this donation fundraising efforts would have taken at least another six months.

“We’re so grateful for your help,” Cotner said to SCHA members, “It means the world to us.”

SCHA board member Scott Windschitl praised NUMAS for the programs efficiency.

“It is well organized,” he said “and you put this together from nothing in such a short time.”

Cotner credited area community for their support

“People keep asking us, ‘how can we help?'” she said.

For more information about NUMAS Haus, visit www.numashaus.org