The Dubuque Rescue Mission will shut its Main Street thrift store on Oct. 3 and repurpose the ground‑floor retail space into a 46‑bed men’s emergency shelter.
The decision follows a sharp rise in meal demand, which doubled from roughly 2,500 to over 5,000 meals a month in the past year, and a recent point‑in‑time count showing more unsheltered residents in Dubuque County.
Once the men’s beds are secured, the Rescue Mission will free its warming‑centre at Jackson and 16th for Opening Doors, which will add 25 beds for women and children, boosting total local capacity by up to 50 beds.
The mission is soliciting $250,000 from the community by Oct. 31 to cover construction, beds and operating costs, with the goal of having the new shelter up and running before the winter cold hits.