Founder Fred Stegner said he opened as a warming center today after finding three half-frozen people at the door Monday morning with nowhere to go.
“One guy looked like he had frostbite on his fingers,” he said.
Those with no place to go included individuals with mental health issues and a woman afraid to go home due to abuse, he said. An issue was that there was no emergency shelter available in addition to the traditional shelters this holiday weekend despite the cold, he said.
The Extreme Cold Weather Shelter hosted at the Salvation Army, 14 S. Plum St., will open its doors at 4 p.m. today and will operate throughout the period of extreme cold weather.
The city on Friday announced a partnership between the Nehemiah Foundation Faith Community Crisis Response Team, Salvation Army, Sheltered Inc. and Homefull, plus the Community Development Department of the city of Springfield to offer shelter to people experiencing homelessness during the extreme cold.
Those who are in need of immediate shelter can access the Extreme Cold Weather Shelter in person at the Salvation Army.
Traditional shelters will remain in operation.
Those seeking assistance should contact the Community Emergency Shelter Access Point offered by Sheltered Inc. Intake at 440 W. High St. or at 937-521-1071. Calls received after hours will be connected to on-call staff for assistance.
The shelters are:
• Norm’s Place, for single women, and women and families;
• Hartley House, for single men
• Homefull at the EI, for non-congregate emergency homeless shelter services for families, and for additional beds in a congregate setting for adults in need of night shelter. Homefull at the El appears to be the new name for the shelter at the former Executive Inn, 325 W. Columbia St.
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