DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — Warming centers and shelters across the Miami Valley have been at full capacity during this week’s snow storm.
The demand for warming centers has left many shelters over capacity, and with temperatures dropping lower and more snow expected later this week, shelters expect the need to keep growing.
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“Unbelievably, we weren’t expecting that much of an influx,” said Pastor Barron Seelig, founder of Victory Faith Center.
Located on South Fountain Avenue in Springfield, Victory Faith Center is a new 24-hour warming center.
Seelig says the storm this week tripled their numbers and pushed them past capacity, meaning there weren’t enough beds for everyone.
“We’re bedding them down on floors and anything at all to keep them. A lot of people can’t even bed down. They have to sit at a table and they fall asleep with their head on the table, because that’s what we have to offer,” said Seelig.
In Dayton, St. Vincent de Paul says they hit their capacity of 500 guests per day, including 100 kids. This has made for a tighter environment than normal.