At Nest Community Shelter, we don’t just provide beds and meals; we strive to address the full spectrum of human needs that must be met for someone to move from crisis to stability to thriving.
Understanding how being unhoused affects every part of a person’s wellbeing explains why our comprehensive approach works at Nest. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs offers a strong framework for understanding what we do at Nest and why it matters.
The Foundation: Physical Survival
Maslow’s Hierarchy begins at the bottom with our most basic needs: food, water, rest, and shelter.
“This is what our shelter does. This is the basic things that we do, we open our doors, and we invite people in, we get them into a situation where they’re comfortable and relaxed and out of the elements and safe.” Executive Director Harrison Holtkamp said on Nest’s WIMS show this morning.
In 2025, Nest did this by providing:
- Nearly 15,000 bed nights across both locations in Michigan City and La Porte.
- Served more than 30,000 meals.
- Safe, warm shelter 365 days a year in Michigan City and seasonally in La Porte.
These aren’t just big numbers; they’re nights when someone didn’t freeze, meals that provided energy to look for work, and rest that allowed bodies and minds to begin healing. This is Nest meeting the needs of our neighbors in need within our community.
Building Safety and Stability
Once physical needs are met, people need safety, not just physical protection, but stability and predictability.
“Nest (in Michigan City) is always going to be there. So, our doors will open for them, and we are here to help them. And it is very stable, and it is very safe.” Harrison Holtkamp shared on-air this morning, explaining the needs of our unhoused community.
For someone sleeping in their car or bouncing between couches, knowing where you’ll sleep tonight and tomorrow night provides the foundation needed to start rebuilding. It is almost impossible to focus on finding a job when one doesn’t know where they’ll be safe tonight.
This year at Nest, we saw families with children who had nowhere else to turn, providing 125 bed nights for children alone. The need for stable, predictable safety has never been greater.
Connection: Love and Belonging
The middle level of Maslow’s Hierarchy addresses our human need for relationships, community, and connection.
“This involves relationships and community and connections. And this is where our staff and our volunteers come into play because we’re showing these individuals who are suffering that we are there for them, that people do care about them, and that they are a part of our community, and we want to see them do the best for themselves as possible.” Holtkamp spoke about the importance of belonging on the air this morning.
This is where our volunteers make a profound difference. Our 5,500 volunteer hours in 2025 were about human connection. Every conversation, every meal served together, every moment of genuine care sends the message: You matter. You belong. Your community hasn’t forgotten you; you are a member of our community.
Restoring Dignity and Self-Worth
The fourth level addresses esteem, dignity, confidence, and a sense of self-worth.
“So as our volunteers and staff in the shelter are guiding these guests, they start to gain more confidence in themselves. They start to realize they do have dignity… because of what we offer and what they’re shown… And they do get a sense of self-worth.” Holtkamp said about the impact of volunteers at Nest.
Consider what it takes to get a job when you’re unhoused. You need clean clothes. You need a shower. You need boots that aren’t falling apart. You need to show up to an interview feeling like someone who deserves employment.
Through partnerships with township trustees and case managers, Nest helps provide these basics that restore dignity: laundry facilities, showers, and clothing for job interviews. These aren’t luxuries, they’re essential stepping stones back to self-sufficiency.
The Ultimate Goal: Self-Actualization
The top of Maslow’s Hierarchy represents reaching one’s full potential, becoming the person you’re meant to be.
“The last step is the step that we’re all hoping for, and that’s self-actualization, which is reaching one’s full potential. So basically, getting a job and getting out on their own, returning to the community, and such. This is what Nest does.” Holtkamp said.
In 2025, 76 individuals found housing through Nest and our community partnerships. Seventy-six people transitioned from survival mode to stability. Seventy-six neighbors rejoined the community as housed, employed, contributing members.
“This is the basics of where we start with our guests. And we’re really proud to be doing this.” Holtkamp added.
The Perfect Storm We’re Facing
The need has never been greater. Nationally, homelessness increased 18% in 2025. At Nest, we’ve seen nearly 60% growth in services within our community since 2022.
“We knew the numbers. We’ve seen, on a nightly basis, that those numbers continue to grow,” Holtkamp said when discussing the rise of need within the community. “We actually saw higher numbers in May and June than we saw in October and December, which is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
This pattern changed in ways we’ve never seen before. Historically, shelter use peaks in winter and drops in summer. Not in 2025.
We averaged 36 people per night year-round in Michigan City. In La Porte, we’re seeing 16-20 people nightly at a shelter that’s been open for just 6 months.
Why the Surge? The Housing Crisis
The elephant in the room is affordable housing, or rather, the lack of it.
We’re seeing elderly residents on fixed incomes facing impossible choices. When utilities jump from $200 to $400 in a one-bedroom apartment, that $200 difference is devastating for someone on a fixed income.
We’re seeing apartment complexes that were income-based housing abandon those programs. We’re seeing landlords requiring first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a deposit, nearly $4,000 to move in.
“There is a large, large handful of individuals who are saving their dollars, who are ready to start getting back into an apartment. They just can’t find an available place. Rents are outrageous.” Holtkamp commented on the community’s need on-air this morning.
Meanwhile, housing success rates have dropped. In previous years, we saw 33-35% of guests find housing. In 2025, we’re closer to 17% due in significant part to a lack of affordable housing.
A True Team Effort
Nest doesn’t work alone. Our partnerships with township trustees, case managers, probation officers, other shelters, and community organizations create a safety net that catches people before they fall too far and helps them climb back up.
“It’s a team effort. It’s not just one organization or one person. It’s a whole team effort. And if we don’t all continue to work as a team, we’re not going to get anything done.” Holtkamp said about the importance of community support.
How You Can Help Meet These Needs
Every level of Maslow’s Hierarchy requires resources, people, and support.
Volunteer Your Time
“Your time matters to us, and you really do help the community out because our people need to be shown that they are loved,” Holtkamp said in talking about the role of volunteers within the community. “You may think that coming to volunteer, I have to be working. I’m here for two hours or whatever. Listen, listening to individuals really helps those individuals.”
You don’t need special skills or training. You need to care. Whether you prepare meals, help with maintenance, work in the office, or simply spend time talking with guests, you’re providing that essential third level of the hierarchy: belonging and connection.
Make a Financial Donation
If you are not able to give of your time, consider donating to Nest. Every dollar helps us provide the foundation of the hierarchy: food, shelter, warmth, and safety.
Corporate Sponsorship
We’re seeking business partners who understand that addressing our unhoused population strengthens our entire community. Your sponsorship can help us expand services, improve facilities, and serve more neighbors in need.
Act Today
- Sign up here to volunteer.
- Make a one-time or recurring donation.
- Explore corporate sponsorship opportunities here.
Join us in this life-changing work. Because everyone deserves the opportunity to climb Maslow’s Hierarchy, starting with a safe, warm place to sleep tonight.
