The Middle Ground Collaborative

The Middle Ground Collaborative was created by listening, learning, and responding to a need in our community. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we regularly visit other shelters and warming centers to learn best practices, share ideas, and discover new ways to better support our neighbors.

During a visit to a warming center in Minnesota, our Executive Director, Liz, asked a simple but important question: “What is one thing our community is missing?” The answer was clear: a day program.

At the time, individuals leaving the Community Cafe often faced a five-hour gap before the Warming Center opened for the evening. During the coldest months of the year, this meant many people had nowhere warm and safe to go after daytime services ended.

Recognizing this barrier, we worked with community partners to create a solution. The Middle Ground Collaborative was born—a welcoming winter day program providing a place for individuals to come inside, stay warm, build connections, and access support during the hours when it was needed most.

The Middle Ground represents what we believe community care should look like: listen to the needs, identify the barriers, and work together to create solutions.