Shelters prepare food and warmth as temperatures continue to drop Tuesday night

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is opening a temporary overnight warming center at Wabash Bus Station Tuesday night as temperatures are forecasted in the single digits, but city leaders want to remind those seeking shelter that there are more options elsewhere.

Steve Hollis, Human Services Manager with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, said Wabash is opened on the coldest nights where the demand for shelter is higher, but he said Room at the Inn and Salvation Army have available beds that people should look at first.

"I can tell you every night that we've had the overnight warming center open there have been cots open at both shelters. Room at the Inn has been full some of the nights, but in those nights Salvation Army did have available cots," Hollis said.

Sean Spence with the Salvation Army said there is a lot of preparation that goes into the days leading up to extremely cold nights. "We look for more cots. We look for more blankets. We try to have a good handle on what the alternatives are when we don't have room for somebody."

Spence also said there are nights when the Salvation Army sites don't have room for everyone, but the shelters communicate to make sure there is a warm place available. "Somebody from another place will call us and say so and so needs help. We try to communicate when we can."

Just a few days earlier, dozens of protestors were outside the Wabash Bus Station over the City of Columbia temperature policy and protestors also complained about the lack of resources provided at the Wabash location.

Hollis said that the shelter used to have bathrooms open inside the bus station, but because of misuse have had to switch to porta-potties.

"We actually had a long-time custody quit because it was so bad. Feces all over the wall, vomit, drug use needles stung about, it was rough. So at that time, the decision was made to use porta-potties there. I've heard folks say there's no fresh water and there is in fact a drinking fountain that's available to folks," Hollis said.

Spence said the Salvation Army is grateful for the city opening the emergency center when they can. "We're grateful for the Wabash station. Sure, it could be better, but you know, staying in my home could be better. We're doing the best we can."

Although there are fewer resources available at Wabash, groups like the JB Mobile Soup Kitchen try to make sure that supplies are available.

Catherine Armbrust with the soup kitchen says they go to Wabash on nights that it's open to providing things like warm clothes, hand warmers, gloves, hats, scarves, blankets and snacks.

"Some people come there with their carts or big bags of stuff and that's awesome and maybe they only need some gloves or hand warmers, but some people literally walk in with nothing and are just laying on the floor or just sitting there in a jean jacket," Armbrust said.

Armburst said although the community is very appreciative for places like RATI and Salvation Army, she believes the bus station is important and needs access to more resources and more often.

"It is a cold hard floor inside of a warm building. It is the most minimal offering that someone can get to someone else, but it literally saves lives," Armburst said.

Shelters that provide sleeping accommodations include:

• 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
• Flourish (for youth), please call 573-615-6135