Shelter is open on a temperature basis this winter.
by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
Temperatures will drop into the 20s several nights this week – dangerous conditions to those who sleep outdoors.
Micah Ecumenical Ministries, the network of downtown churches that provides services to this population, operates a cold-weather shelter between mid-November and mid-March each year.
The 3,000-square-foot building at 750 King’s Highway provides shelter to individuals, both male and female, who would otherwise be sleeping outdoors in winter weather.
This year, whether or not the shelter is open each night will depend on overnight temperatures and other factors, said Jill Clare, executive administrator of Micah Ministries.
“We factor in wind chill, prolonged precipitation, and the ‘Feels Like’ temperature when making a determination each day,” Clare said. “Generally, if ‘feels like’ temperatures are projected to drop below 32 degrees overnight, and/or if prolonged cold rain makes for hazardous conditions to sleep outside, (the shelter) will open that night.”
So far this season, the shelter has been open on six nights, including the night of Nov. 28th. The number of overnight residents has varied from a low of 18 to a high of 34.
The building has 37 beds, but Clare said the shelter is “designed as a program that does not turn people away, since our explicit purpose is to keep people from freezing to death due to sleeping outside.”
“So, we strive to supplement the program with additional ‘overflow’ options even if the building is full,” she said.
Because of the need, Micah is planning to open a second shelter site for women only on Jan. 1, Clare said.
The new shelter site will rotate between two of the downtown churches, while the King’s Highway location will continue to serve men only.
“This will allow us to increase capacity for our cold weather shelter operations for the coldest part of the winter (January through the end of the season), when increased capacity is needed most,” she said. “We are excited about this change and are very grateful to our churches for providing the spaces that will allow us to do this during the height of the winter season.”
In the meantime, anyone who would otherwise be sleeping outside is welcome at the King’s Highway shelter, Clare said.
Individuals can either show up at the shelter at check-in time, which is 6:30 p.m. each night the shelter is open, or take a bus provided by Micah each night from the location of the downtown community dinner.
Dinners are served at different locations through the week, from 5 to 6 p.m., and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. A schedule of locations is at Micah’s website: micahfredericksburg.org/get-help/local-resources.
Those who are newly experiencing homelessness, or know someone who needs help, can always call the community’s Homeless Help Line at 540-358-5801 or visit the Micah Hospitality Center (1013 Princess Anne Street) during daytime open hours for resources and directions.
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