Warming and cooling centers, shelters open up to public

Business administrator Melody Freeman from The Salvation Army said the warming centers they run are not just for the homeless, but for anyone who needs a place to keep warm.

“The Salvation Army in Columbia has a 61-bed homeless shelters, located at 602 N. Ann St. They run a warming center, so people can pop in there, sit in the dining room, have a cup of hot coffee, (and) get out of the cold.”

Columbia warming and cooling centers, along with official shelter locations, are now open to the public.

According to the City of Columbia website, there are nine warming and cooling centers and seven different kinds of shelters.

The website says at these centers and shelters people can use amenities like the public areas and restrooms and have access to drinking fountains.

Other shelters will have sleeping accommodations, but may not have meals.