Warming shelters open their doors as temperatures begin to drop

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Warming shelters around the City of Columbia opened their doors Monday night to welcome those in need as the temperature continues to drop.

The Room at the Inn opened its doors on Sunday and announced that its doors will remain open throughout the year.

The emergency shelter located on 1509 Ashley St. welcomed 68 guests on Sunday according to a Facebook post. The shelter has the capacity to welcome 85 guests every night.

The shelter will provide a shuttle to transport people from the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen at 702 Wilkes Blvd, in the mornings and evenings. However, the shelter encourages people to use Columbia's transit system to get to the shelter.

The City of Columbia has contracted with Turning Point to provide overnight warming center services at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church, 702 Wilkes Blvd. The overnight warming center services opened on Sunday as well. Services will be available from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. when temperatures are forecasted by the National Weather Service to be 25 degrees or lower.

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services also coordinates a network of warming and cooling centers in the community. As the temperature begins to drop, the public is reminded of several locations in Columbia available to those who need shelter from the cold.

Columbia's Warming Shelters:

• The ARC, 1701 W. Ash St.
• City Hall, 701 East Broadway
• Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.
• Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway
• Salvation Army, 1108 W. Ash St.
• Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.
• St. Francis House, 901 Range Line St.
  
  Columbia's shelters include:

• Flourish (for teens), please call 573.615.6135.
• Room at the Inn (beginning Nov. 28), 1509 Ashley St.  
• Salvation Army Harbor House (men, women, and families), 602 N. Ann St.
• Rainbow House (for children/youth), 1611 Towne Dr.
• 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.

ABC 17 News is working to find out how many guests stayed at the Room at the Inn on Monday.