Mid Missouri homeless organizations prepare for influx of people ahead of frigid weekend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mid-Missouri homeless organizations are preparing to see an increased need as extreme low temperatures are expected over the weekend.
Maj. Nancy Powers, a Corps Officer with Columbia's Salvation Army Harbor House, said Friday that the colder weather has already brought people to Harbor House with dangerous weather-related health problems.
"By the time they're coming to us, they may have black fingertips or black toes," Powers said. "Oftentimes their skin is red and cracking, that kind of thing."
Harbor houses typically focus on families facing homelessness, but they will work with other local organizations, like Room at the Inn, on a referral basis to help with any overflow.
"We have cots so we can accommodate what we need to on cots," Powers said. "We do screen everybody to make sure we don't have any sexual predators, or anybody that would be dangerous with our kids."
Powers said Harbor House's non-resident day shelter opens at 6 a.m. and closes around the time other overnight shelters and organizations in town open up.
"They need to leave here by four o'clock to catch the bus to go there," Powers said. "We encourage folks, get that bus so you have some place to go."
However, families and Harbor House residents are able to stay 24 hours. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily for residents, but lunch is open to members of the public.
"It's really good that they're here and they offer the services that they do," said Melanie Mooney, a Harbor House resident.
Powers said the shelter needs more winter gear and clothing for its residents and community members in need.
"Boots, hats, gloves, scarves," Powers said. "Adult coats, especially large sizes of adult coats, are really important."
John Trapp, with Columbia's Room at the Inn, said 110 beds are available for people looking to get out of the cold overnight. Trapp also said Turning Point, located at Columbia's United Methodist Church on Wilkes Boulevard, will be open overnight as a warming center to assist with any overflow.
Audrain County is expected to be one of the hardest hit areas by the extreme low temperatures. Ra'Vae Edwards-Moore, executive director for Audrain County's Room at the Inn, said it will be open 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday with capacity for 16 people overnight.
