Overnight warming centers in Columbia near capacity as temperatures continue to drop

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As temperatures continue to drop, the need for shelter increases.

Multiple locations in Columbia are working to keep the homeless community safe through dangerously low temperatures.

Several inches of snow fell this past weekend in Mid-Missouri , the staff of Turning Point immediately prepared to open a warming center.

Any time temperatures drop to 25 degrees or below, Turning Point at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church opens up overnight.

Turning Point Homeless Day Center is open 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

"That's the norm," Executive Director Darren Morton said. "Providing the showers, doing laundry, just being sheltered, getting them indoors, being a hub, helping people get connected."

Tim Johnston has been coming to the Turning Point Homeless Day Center for more than two months.

“Having a place to meet my counselor, be able to do laundry, take showers... All of that’s very helpful,” Johnston said.

When several locations close, Turning Point expands its services - reopening from 6:30 p.m.-7 a.m.

“I always say that we're worse than the postman, you know, rain, sleet or snow," Morton said. "But the snow day is when we're needed the most.”

Room at the Inn, located at 1509 Ashley St., is the primary homeless shelter in Columbia, but once they're at capacity, overflow is redirected and welcomed by Turning Point, Morton said.

John Trapp, executive director of Room at the Inn, said in an email to ABC 17 News on Monday that he is more concerned about the coming cold weather than this past weekend's precipitation.

"We have been at capacity for females," Trapp said in an email on Tuesday. "But we haven't had to turn anyone away. Males were near capacity."

Room At The Inn has 95 beds, according to previous reporting. Turning Point can house between 25-27 men and 10-12 women.

“We do get to capacity," Morton said. “Outside of this snow, this storm, we're still getting over 30 people every night.”

According to the National Library of Medicine, factors such as homelessness and mental illness (especially substance use disorders) are risk factors for incurring frostbite.

"We haven't really seen too much of it this year," Morton said. "We do see some frostbite."

Morton said one of the biggest donations that Turning Point needs right now is hand warmers. He said they're going through them very quickly each day. He said that with this cold weather, he has thankfully seen people making good health choices and seeking indoor shelter.

“Sometimes our community is so tough, so strong, and they're so afraid to come out and just say, man, I'm really in need," Morton said.

Now staff member, Patrick Domininc Balerio, said he was one of those stubborn people.

“He’s [Morton's] had to hunt me down in the woods,” Balerio said.

That is where Balerio was living before he came to Turning Point.

“Everybody has problems," Balerio said. "But see, when I come here... We started this place for a reason so we wouldn't have to go out and find people, bring them to here. Lost a lot of friends, but everything is everything. I always wonder why me? But it's not about me.”

He said Turning Point was a true turning point for his life, and joining staff has allowed him to become a part of something bigger than himself.

“This place has helped me a lot," Balerio said. "Since I've been here and lost my wife last year...These people will help you if you're willing to be helped.”

"The homeless community are human beings as well," Morton said. "And people don't understand what all these people done endured and what they done been through. And everybody's not homeless because they're some addict or some junkie. Circumstance truly does play a part and mental health is huge."

Several warming centers are available in Columbia, including:

• Activity & Recreation Center, 1701 W. Ash St.
  Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  Saturday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Sunday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
  Open July 4 from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• City Hall, 701 E. Broadway St.; Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.; Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Columbia Public Library, 100 West Broadway
  Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m.
• Salvation Army, 1108 West Ash Street; Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – noon, 1 – 4 p.m.
• Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.; Daily: 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.