Milwaukee Street Angels ramp up fundraising efforts ahead of winter season

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- With winter approaching, a Milwaukee organization that helps homeless people in our city is about to launch a large fundraiser. "Street Angels" will open their warming room at 12tha nd Layton on Nov. 1. 

It will be open from 7 pm. to 7 a.m., seven days a week. 

Their "48 Hours of Homelessness" challenge kicks off later this month, Oct. 22-24, with a goal of raising $150,000. 

Tents are set up inside the warming rooms due to COVID restrictions. 

"We know that the need is there, and it takes a lot to plan this so we just hope that we are doing the best that we can to keep people safe from not only the cold outside, but the COVID inside," said Shelly Sarasin, co-founder and director of Milwaukee Street Angels. 

The group estimates there are about 180 homeless people on the streets of Milwaukee right now. Street Angels says it has helped about 330 people get off the streets and into permanent housing in the past three years.