The Salvation Army warming shelter faces a shortage of space this winter despite receiving funding from Dane County to extend operations year-round.

The Dane County Board of Supervisors announced initiatives Monday to increase funding for homeless programs. The county will increase its funding by about $145,000 with the goal of increasing the number of beds in shelters during the winter, extending shelter operations to run year-round and creating a job assistance program.

The problem facing the Salvation Army, however, is that their shelter is already full. Paul Moore, Dane County Coordinator for the Salvation Army, said the shelter opened a month earlier than in previous years, adding the shelter has been at capacity since the first night.

"One night we had 28 people show up for the 14 spots we have," Moore said.

Moore added the building that currently houses the shelter is not adequate for year-round operations. He said the space available is not sufficient for the winter and is certainly not enough to provide shelter year-round.

According to Moore, the Salvation Army has already started making contacts in their search for a larger space.

"To have this program run 12 months a year, we really need to treat people in a better fashion than [having] them sleep on mats on the floor," Moore said. "And so we need a facility where we can operate during the summer."

Josh Wescott, press secretary for Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, who sponsored the initiatives, said this issue is important for the county.

"We've got the money to fund [the shelter] and operate it, and now we just need some space," Wescott said.

Wescott added the process of finding space is just beginning. He expressed optimism that the problem will be solved.

"The Madison area has kind of a long-standing tradition of folks helping one another … in their time of need," Wescott said.

In addition to a lack of space despite the increased demand for shelter this winter, the Salvation Army is dealing with a decrease in collections.

"There's been a rather severe drop, and it's primarily due to the weather," Moore said. "As of this morning we're about $21,000 behind where we were last year on this same day."

According to Moore, the inclement weather has discouraged many volunteer bell-ringers, who are generally older, from participating. Moore said it has also been more difficult to service the collection baskets.

Steve Hoitomt, a local resident who mans the post on the 400 block of State Street, said he has noticed a decline in donations.

"I've certainly [collected] a lot more money in the past," Hoitomt said.

Hoitomt said he has been a bell-ringer for many years, and this is the most snow he has ever seen during the bell-ringing campaign. He added it has definitely been colder, however.

"I would think the cold would keep people away a lot more than the snow," Hoitomt said.