City of Columbia to open temporary overnight warming center on Wednesday and Thursday night

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is opening a temporary overnight warming center at Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. 10th St., from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting overnight low temperatures below the 25-degree threshold for Wednesday and Thursday.

The City of Columbia will begin implementing several changes at one of the City's warming centers, Wabash Bus Station, beginning Wednesday:

• Wabash Bus Station will be open during the daytime hours as a warming center Monday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. as part of the City's network of warming centers. 
• The City will be contracting with a private security company to staff the warming center both during the day and overnight. 

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services coordinates a network of warming and cooling centers in the community during extreme temperatures. There are several locations in Columbia available to those who need shelter from the extreme cold.

Columbia's warming centers include:

• ARC (Activity and Recreation Center), 1701 W. Ash St.
• Boone County Government Center, 801 E. Walnut St.
• 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.

City staff will continue working closely with emergency shelter providers to ensure access to overnight emergency shelters as the preferred option for persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  

The following providers are contracted by the City to provide emergency shelter services:

• Room at the Inn, visit roomattheinncomo.org for dates and locations
• Salvation Army Harbor House (men, women and families), 602 N. Ann St.
• True North (for domestic violence), please call 573.875.1370
• Turning Point (day shelter 7 a.m. - noon, M - F), 702 Wilkes Blvd.

Additional emergency shelters in Columbia include:

• Welcome Home (for veterans), 2120 Business Loop 70 E.
• St. Francis House (for men), 901 Range Line St. - must be vaccinated to stay overnight
• Rainbow House (for children/youth), 1611 Towne Dr.
• Flourish (for youth), please call 573.615.6135