City of Columbia to open overnight shelter this week
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia said Monday that it will open its emergency overnight shelter at the Wabash Bus Station three nights this week because of the cold.
The city last week raised the low-temperature threshold to open the center from 9 degrees to 15 degrees after advocates for the homeless population lobbied the city to have the center open more often. Demonstrators gathered outside the station on Tenth Street as it was opening Friday.
The warming center will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week, the city said in a news release. The shelter is open from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and is meant for people unable to use other local emergency shelters.
Multiple groups operate overnight shelters that are officially recognized by the city:
- Room at the Inn, visit roomattheinncomo.org for dates and locations
- Salvation Army Harbor House (men, women and families), 602 N. Ann St.
- Rainbow House (for children/youth), 1611 Towne Drive
- True North (for domestic violence), please call 573-875-1370
- Welcome Home (for veterans), 2120 Business Loop 70 E.
- St. Francis House (for men), 901 Range Line St. - must be vaccinated to stay overnight
The city also recognizes several locations as daytime warming centers that are open during regular business hours:
- ARC (Activity and Recreation Center), 1701 W. Ash St.
- Boone County Government Center, 801 E. Walnut St.
- Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.
- Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway
- Salvation Army, 1108 W. Ash St.
- Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.
- St. Francis House, 901 Range Line St.
The Columbia Public Library is closed through Wednesday because of staffing issues related to COVID-19.
More information on Columbia warming centers is available at this link.
