MORGANTOWN — Only one of the 21 available beds in the Catholic Charities winter warming shelter were empty Sunday night as temperatures, and snow, fell across much of the northeastern United States.
The near-capacity turnout has prompted the expansion of the temporary shelter.
Dr. Jessica Thompson, who oversees both the seasonal warming shelter and permanent Grace Shelter – both at Hazel’s House of Hope – said the warming shelter had 20 guests on Sunday night and 14 on Monday night.
“We got approval from the fire marshal today to add 9 more beds to equal 30,” Thompson told The Dominion Post. “I can cover those additions with current funding and staff.”
The warming shelter, which is open on a first-come, first-served basis from 8 p.m.- 8 a.m. daily through March 15, has not reached full capacity since opening Dec. 11.
As a requirement of the $80,000 in funding provided by the Monongalia County Commission and Morgantown City Council, monthly warming shelter reports are required.
According to the December report, the shelter served a total of 34 individuals in its first 20 days of operation, including three individuals who utilized the shelter 10 or more times and six individuals who were moved on to housing or other shelter situations.
Among the questions asked of guests is where they come from. It is included at direction of the funding bodies in an effort to prioritize members of the local community.
Half of the 34 individuals who utilized the shelter in December did not answer that question; eight said they were from other parts of West Virginia; five said they were from the Morgantown/Monongalia County area and four said they were from out of state (Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Minnesota).
Thompson said she is not concerned with where people are coming from and says nobody has been turned away from the warming shelter.
“The only concern I have is that the majority that are out of the area have been dropped off by hospitals,” she said.
The warming shelter is in the space formerly occupied by the Hope Hill Sobering Center, located on the ground floor at Hazel’s House of Hope.
Thompson said the shelter is in particular need of coffee, creamer, sugar, cups and individual snack items for those interested in helping out.
The 28-bed, year-round Grace Shelter located on the facility’s second floor is currently full and pretty much stays that way.
Catholic Charities took over operation of that shelter from Bartlett Housing Solutions last fall. The city and county each put up $150,000 to assist with that transition.
Thompson said the fire marshal has also signed off on additional beds in that space, but current funding levels will not support that expansion.
