“In some shape or form, there will be a Theresa House,” Walchuk said. “SS. Pete’s and Paul’s will financially back Theresa House wherever it goes.”

Theresa House is one of several homeless shelters in Mankato, but it fills a unique niche: It accepts women and children only, but will also accept men who are part of a family unit.

In the last fiscal year it provided emergency housing for 43 adults and 53 children. It turned away 835 adults and children because the shelter didn’t have room.

When Theresa House moves, the arrangement the shelter has with the church will undoubtedly change.

Today, if the roof leaks, the church makes the phone calls and gets it fixed. Employee payroll work is done by the church. The church also provides the shelter’s employees with health insurance.

How all that will work in the future is unknown.

“Finding the initial money to build a place might be the easiest part,” Walchuk said. “Churches and communities tend to do emergencies very well. Sustaining something over the long haul is much more difficult.”