Resources increase for homeless during winter
Starting on Dec. 4, the Room at the Inn will be offering shelter for the homeless in Columbia for the winter. When temperatures reach below 45 degrees, the Salvation Army’s Harbor House welcome at least 10 more people in need of a warm shelter for the night.
Room at the Inn is a shelter for the homeless only during the winter months. Every two weeks the shelter moves to a different church that is willing to host.
The Salvation Army also offers more for homeless people during the winter. Harbor House holds 61 beds, but during the winter they add “cold cots.” The people who stay on the cold cots are welcome to have a warm shower and hot food.
The Voluntary Action Center does not have a shelter, but every November they hold an event called Warm Up Columbia to collect and hand out blankets, scarves, gloves and hats to whoever needs them for the colder weather. This year the VAC served 1,100 people with warm items.
