Bracing for winter storm, Charlotte nonprofit expands homeless shelters, services
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Winter weather in Charlotte
The latest weather news and how to prepare.
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Mecklenburg residents who need somewhere warm during the weekend winter storm have several options for overnight and day time places to stay.
The Charlotte area can expect snow and ice, high winds, and days of lows in the 20s, according to the National Weather Service. That can be especially dangerous for people living outside or otherwise without stable housing.
Homeless shelters
Roof Above, which primarily serves men experiencing homelessness, will expand hours for its emergency overnight shelter, add bed capacity across its location and open its day center on Sunday.
The day center, 945 N. College St., will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Outdoor heaters will also be available at this site.
More than 100 additional indoor sleeping spots will be available across its locations and the Room in the Inn program, which offers sleeping arrangements at area congregations.
The goal is to strike a delicate balance between keeping people warm and mitigate risk of COVID-19 spread, said Randall Hitt, chief engagement officer for Roof Above.
Roof Above is consulting public health officials for protocols, including spacing people out as possible and wearing masks.
“We feel like this is the best balance where we’re respecting and dealing with COVID in a way that tries to keep everybody as protected as possible, but also meeting our mission for a critical service of not having someone be outside freezing to death,” he said.
Roof Above can move people who test positive for COVID-19 into hotel rooms to isolate from other guests, Hitt said.
Those looking for a bed should go to the Lucille Giles Center, 3410 Statesville Ave., which is Roof Above’s emergency overnight shelter, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Guests who stay Saturday night at this location also will be able to stay there during the day Sunday.
The Salvation Army Center of Hope, which primarily serves women and children, will be expanding shelter capacity by about 50 people at its 534 Spratt St. location, said Social Services Director Deronda Metz.
Those wishing to stay there are encouraged to call 211 or go to the Spratt Street shelter from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Roof Above staff and some grassroots groups are also visiting people living outside to provide blankets, winter coats, and information about shelter options.
Charlotte Area Transit System buses will offer free rides to these shelters on Saturday and Sunday.
Other sites
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management has identified several locations that could be opened as an emergency shelter for the general public, said Hannah Sanborn Brown, emergency management planning coordinator.
Members of the Shelter Task Force, which include Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management, City of Charlotte, Roof Above, Salvation Army and the Red Cross, will determine whether to open such a shelter based on conditions and which location is best suited, she said.
The names and locations of those sites are not provided publicly at this time, she said, to reduce confusion and people driving to a wrong location when roads are bad.
If officials decide to open one or more site, it will be shared on social media.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 1:32 PM.
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