As chilling temperatures and winter storms hit Northeast Ohio, cities, including Cleveland and Akron, have enacted measures to provide residents with refuge from the cold. Cleveland has converted several recreational centers into warming shelters, available to the public through the tail end of the week.
Identified warming centers in Cleveland are the Michael Zone Recreation Center, Lonnie Burten Recreation Center, Collinwood Recreation Center, and Zelma George Recreation Center. These facilities will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, according to News 5 Cleveland. Following daytime operations, transportation to overnight shelters will be available for those in need. Emily Collins, City of Cleveland Mayoral Senior Advisor, emphasized that, "They open for longer hours than normal to make sure that people have a chance to get to shelter if they need to," a statement obtained by News 5 Cleveland.
In Akron, the Summit Lake Community Center will extend its hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Sunday, Jan. 5 through Friday, Jan. 10. An emergency overnight shelter will also operate from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., noted in a press release distributed by the city. This emergency facility, located at 111 East Voris St., is the result of a collaboration between The Peter Maurin Center, Summit County Continuum of Care, and Community Support Services, offering food, shelter, and clothing, as reported by WKYC.
However, the assistance is not just limited to physical warmth. Some Cleveland centers also offer shower facilities and other amenities within the recreational spaces. Collins mentioned in an interview with News 5 Cleveland that the warming centers were instrumental last winter, aiding approximately 150 people, and 50 individuals have been served so far this winter. "That gives you a sense that it's needed," Collins stated. Akron's other community centers will maintain their normal business hours, with officials poised to extend operating times if the freezing conditions persist past the initial forecasted dates, as per Cleveland19.
Residents seeking overnight accommodations in Cleveland are urged to contact 211 for assistance. Cleveland officials and Akron's city representatives will continue to monitor weather conditions closely, ready to adapt their resources as necessary in response to Mother Nature's whims.
