The Columbus City Council approved legislation Monday to provide $2.3 million for warming shelters. The council also approved an additional $200,447 sourced from remaining funds for extreme weather resiliency programs to construct a new winter overflow center on the city's west side.
The city’s primary coordinator of shelter and support for Columbus’ homeless population is the Community Shelter Board (CSB), which regularly partners with shelters, libraries, recreation centers and churches to provide services.
The CSB currently has three overnight shelters in the city, with the west side shelter planned to be the fourth. It's scheduled to open on Dec. 29. Two more overnight centers are set to open on Jan. 1. Some warming centers allow pets, and all are co-ed, to avoid separating families.
Last year, warming centers served more than 700 people, but Chief Programs Officer Steve Skovensky expects a higher number this year. He explained the CSB estimates unsheltered homelessness will increase by 68% over the next three years.
Warming centers see higher occupancy in colder temperatures, like the ones seen last weekend.
“The primary goal of the winter overflow beds and the winter warming center site is to get people out of the most life-threatening conditions,” Skovensky said. “That is the number one goal.”
However, CSB has a second goal with these centers. With people coming to warming centers, the group is able to offer support and pathways to long-term housing for homeless people who may have been reluctant to previously seek out services.
“We're really focused on how we can use the winter response to end the cycle of homelessness for community members that are coming in,” Skovensky said.
He added that the CSB has been able to move several people into long-term housing from warming centers since they opened for the season on Dec. 1.
Skovensky emphasized that the CSB will never turn someone away, even if shelters are at full capacity. In the past, staff has paid for transportation to another shelter with availability, churches and community centers have opened their doors. If nothing else is available, the CSB has provided hotel rooms.
“If someone calls for shelter or walks into a warming center, we don't ever want the answer to be no,” Skovensky said. “We want it to be here are the options we have for you.”
