Warming centers and shelters expect big numbers
UPDATE: The city of Columbia has opened up The Hub on Walnut Street for use as an overnight shelter. The Department of Economic Development and REDI opened the center on Tuesday night as shelters across the city began to fill up. While space at shelters has been limited in Columbia, donations to groups trying to help the homeless have been steady. Sylvia, a member of Operation Safe Winter in Columbia, said she made nearly two dozen supply pick ups across the city in the last two days. Sylvia said donations went to shelters, such as Room at the Inn and Turning Point at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church. What those shelters did not need then went to people living on the street. Second Ward city councilman Michael Trapp said the city could use a day center for homeless people, which could also serve as an overnight shelter during inclement weather. Trapp, a homelessness outreach specialist, estimated that there were at least 280 people without a home in Columbia. Aiding these people has largely fallen on the shoulders of churches and nonprofits, he said. Issues like the cost of housing, substance abuse and mental health all contribute to homelessness in the city. “The people that are providing services are doing a Herculean efforts and doing excellent, but they’re really under-resourced for the task that’s at hand,” Trapp said. “We still fall short of making sure there’s a shelter for everybody.” Trapp said the city is getting feedback through its Consolidated Plan on how to spend federal housing money through 2024. That money could go toward a homeless day center. ORIGINAL: Warming centers and public shelters are available across mid-Missouri to keep people without shelter out of the frigid temperatures expected today through Thursday. Room at the Inn is operating out of the Missouri United Methodist Church on Ninth Street on Tuesday night. Officials said they can accommodate 50 guests and they expect at least that many to request beds.
Other warming centers are available during normal business hours in Columbia including the Activity & Recreation Center, the Columbia Mall, Columbia Public Library and the Armory Sports and Community Center.
Official shelters include the Salvation Army Harbor House, Rainbow House for children and youth and St. Francis House for men in Columbia.
In Jefferson City, people with an I.D. can go to the Center of Hope to stay overnight any time the temperature drops below 40 degrees. A spokesman with the shelter said they have already seen a higher number of guests than usual and expect the number to grow overnight.
Wind chills are expected to fall as low as minus-30 degrees with low temperatures across the region registering below zero by Wednesday morning. All of mid-Missouri is under either a wind chill warning or advisory.
Several schools have already called off Wednesday classes, including Columbia Public Schools.
