Extending Services During Cold Weather
Bridging Gaps in Service During Winter Storms
When winter storms bring frigid weather, these dangerous conditions pose a serious threat to people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. This month, temperatures remained well below freezing – with subzero windchills – for days on end. In response to this cold snap, Catholic Charities Twin Cities took measures to ensure that people had access to shelter from the elements. For Catholic Charities, this meant extending service hours across the agency to host warm spaces for those in need, making sure that cold weather essentials were readily available to shelter guests, and collaborating with other service providers, and both Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
This is extremely important because many daytime shelters close their doors hours before evening shelters open. This leaves people with nowhere warm to go in conditions that can be life-threatening.
Collaboration with Ramsey County’s Warming Spaces
Each year, Ramsey County operates Winter Warming Spaces for people experiencing homelessness during cold weather months. People experiencing homelessness in St. Paul can stay warm overnight at a handful of designated sites.
Ramsey County announced that three Winter Warming Spaces will be open from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night. The Warming Spaces will continue to operate through the end of March.
There will be a free shuttle service from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day, ensuring transportation to and from Winter Warming Space locations. On days with extreme winter weather, Catholic Charities Twin Cities will extend daytime shelter hours until 9 p.m. so that guests have a warm place to stay until Ramsey County shuttles begin to run. “We see this gap every winter and we do our best to meet needs until nighttime services become available,” said Jen Kissling, program manager at the St. Paul Opportunity Center, “our staff do everything possible to make sure people get to warm spaces safely.”
Homelessness in Minnesota
There are not enough overnight shelter beds in the Twin Cities to serve every person experiencing homelessness. This year’s Minnesota Homeless Study conducted by Wilder Research showed that, “in 2023, nearly one-quarter (23%) of the homeless population spent at least half of the previous month outside, compared to 13% in 2012.”
Catholic Charities Twin Cities has seen a comparable uptick in its emergency services division this year, the branch of the agency responsible for serving people at its daytime and overnight shelters, medical respite, and targeted mental health care programs. Working with community partners to bridge gaps in service this winter will ensure that more people have access to warm spaces on frigid days and nights.
