PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Prevention Point Philadelphia is hosting a series of emergency overnight warming centers for the unhoused community as the city enters its coldest stretch so far this winter.
To make the overnight warming centers a reality, Prevention Point partnered with Project HOME, and they will remain open throughout this weekend. A list of centers can be found here.
Teena Weisler, Prevention Point’s warming center coordinator, said the doors opened at the organization’s headquarters at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, when most other warming centers in the city close.
“Then we go through the night until 6 a.m.,” said Weisler. “In my experience, people really do just want a safe, warm space to sleep and rest because it's not happening on the street. You can not get good sleep and rest your body outside."
Cold temperatures ushered in Friday into Saturday, with snow coating most of the Philadelphia region Saturday morning into the afternoon. Snow is expected to hit Philly again Sunday as early as 4 a.m. and last throughout the evening. Philly could get anywhere between 1 and 3 inches. A Code Blue remains in effect.
The max capacity for the overnight warming center is 30 people at a time for safety, according to Weisler.
"Folks will be waiting outside, unfortunately, but we do have a system where folks can come in for a bit, leave as they wish, and then other folks can come in and stay in that person's spot,” she said. “We have been really grateful for a grant where we were able to get yoga mats for people to lay down during the night.”
Donations of food, clothing, and blankets are also being accepted.
More information can be found on Prevention Point Philadelphia's website.