Audrain County Room at the Inn extends hours amid dangerous cold, prepares for renovations

AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

With temperatures dropping to dangerous levels, Room at the Inn in Audrain County is extending its hours to make sure no one is left out in the cold. The shelter will now remain open during the day as extremely cold conditions are expected through Sunday.

The shelter is open daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. until renovations are expected to begin in February. If freezing temperatures continue throughout the day, the shelter may extend its hours and remain open all day, as it did Saturday.

"Not every time but every time that we can," Executive Director Ravae Moore said.

The organization has also seen a surge in volunteer support. For the past two years, Room at the Inn had only six volunteers. This year, more than 40 trained volunteers are stepping up to help meet the growing need.

"On Dec. 3, we had a volunteer training and I was out in the hallway dealing with something and when I walked back in, there were like 30 people in the room." Moore said. "I was speechless to see that many people that are willing and eager to come here and help,"

Catina Blackburn, one of the shelter’s consistent volunteers, said she’s happy to be doing more.

"I’ve done some things in the past like bringing in food or dropping off blankets, but I’ve always had a desire to do more," Blackburn said.

It’s not just the volunteer base that’s expanding. The shelter itself is preparing for a major transformation.

Moore said Room at the Inn is about 1,500 square feet and has three bedrooms for guests. The shelter includes one room with 10 cots, an overflow room that fits 4 more, and a separate space with a queen size mattress reserved for families or sick guest.

The shelter received 15 mattresses and bed frames from Slumberland, along with a donation from the Mexico Jaycees that provided new sheets for each bed Saturday morning. All of the beds will be used for transitional housing.

The organization received a $350,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development in late 2024, to renovate the shelter. Moore said the project is still in its early stages.

"We haven’t gone out for bids yet, so it’s still really brand new, but we have to have it all done and completed by the end of August," she said.

The overflow room is planned to be converted into a large bathroom with laundry facilities. Blackburn added that this addition is vital, as the shelter currently relies on the transitional housing utilities, which only a limited number of guests can access. One volunteer comes a few times a week to escort guests to transitional housing for showers and to the laundromat.

Blackburn said the improvements will make it easier for volunteers to meet the needs of guests.

"It’ll be much easier for a lot of people to provide the needs that the guests need when they come in," Blackburn said.

Moore said that about 75 people in Audrain County are currently experiencing homelessness, but the shelter only has the capacity to serve 16. Moore adds that there is no public transportation available, meaning all guests must walk to the shelter. For those coming from the heart of the city near West Jackson Street, that walk can take about 25 minutes.

"The walk, the distance to the shelter, that’s no joke. That’s serious, and sometimes that can be a serious problem for them,’ Blackburn said.” "By the time they get here, they're cold, they're hungry and we're here to just provide a safe place,"

Organizers said children are less likely to stay at the shelter compared to those in transitional housing, where the organization consistently serves several families with children.

“Some people would be surprised at the difference of ages. Literally, I think transitional right now they have everything from unborn to 70 years old,” Blackburn said.

According to Moore, the organizations helped house over 25 guest from last year.

"We work with them as much as we can. If they're ready to get their lives stable, we're ready to help them," she said.

The shelter does not enforce many strict requirements to participate in the program. Staff said the primary expectations are that guests respect all staff members and refrain from bringing alcohol or drugs into the facility. If a guest does have alcohol or drugs, staff will confiscate the items. There is no co-ed sleeping arrangements, and guests are not required to undergo drug testing in order to stay.

Guests are allowed to arrive at the shelter beginning at 5 p.m. and may leave as they choose, as long as they return by 10 p.m. Staff noted, however, that some individuals work until 11 p.m., so accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

Moore hopes the renovations will allow the shelter to help even more people next year.

Summit Transitional Housing is inviting the public to an open house Christmas party on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees will be able to tour the facility, meet staff, and hear stories from individuals and families who have experienced the program. The shelter is also asking for monetary donations and supplies to support its guests.