KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — It’s December, which means warming centers are now open around Knoxville.
Warming centers are temporary overnight shelters that open their doors when the weather is dangerously cold. When it becomes colder outside, it puts unhoused people at risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
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Erin Read the Executive Director of the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability shared that they are seeing a high demand for warming centers.
“So, our community doesn’t have adequate homeless shelter space for cold weather. Generally, in the warmer months, we do. But during this colder weather, we really do need more shelter space. And that’s why warming centers are opening. We are seeing, demand for warming centers. Definitely last Friday night, the Salvation Army had opened their former thrift store building as an overflow site and we did see 65 people there. So, we are anticipating, demand for warming centers this year as well.” said Read.