By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Three locations in St. Joseph are operating as emergency shelters for the homeless during the extremely cold conditions impacting the area this week.
The Community Missions Cold Weather Shelter at 927 Faraon Street, the Salvation Army at 602 Messanie Street and the YWCA Shelter at 304 North 8th Street all provide heat and needed resources for the homeless.
Kylee Strough, director of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, says these locations will likely see an influx of people during the extremely cold nights across the region this week.
"We'll anticipate that there will be more individuals coming in on days and nights like we're having right now," Strough said. "I know prior to last night's cold, the emergency shelter the Community Missions is operating reported they housed 75 individuals when they were open in November for a couple of days for severe cold. Not in a single night, but over a course of time."
The Salvation Army of St. Joseph has extended its heating center hours from 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The Community Missions Shelter operates nightly from 6 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Strough says there are other public places that can provide people with heat and shelter during the day if needed.
"Other places that can be warming centers include local health departments, libraries and places like that."
Strough says these emergency shelters not only provide needs for the short term, but they can also connect people with social workers and resources that can help in the long haul as well.
"They'll have a roof over their head and warm restrooms available," Strough said. "There's also going to be an opportunity to get connected to a support worker long-term. We recognize that experiencing homelessness is often not a single-night event."
Strough says people can call the AFL-CIO at 816-364-1131 or the United Way of Greater St. Joseph at 816-364-2381 if they have any questions relating to what shelter is available and what resources would be available to them at those shelters.
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