In response to the biting cold, the City of St. Louis has collaborated with local partners to keep 450 emergency shelter beds open during the daytime and through the following morning; this initiative seeks to provide refuge for homeless citizens facing harsh winter temperatures. The announcement, shared by the City of St. Louis Government on social media, included numerous walk-up shelter locations across the city, specifying services for families, individuals, and those with pets.
For assistance during the day and until the following morning, Centenary United Methodist Church, located at 1610 Olive St., will act as both a warming center and later as a transit rally point for shelters with the Pine Street entrance designated for access while walk-up options are being made available at Peter & Paul - Jugan Shelter, Biddle Housing Opportunities Center, and two more facilities on Kingshighway Blvd. and Sidney Street, walk-ups are welcome till 9 p.m., however after 9 p.m., those in need of shelter are required to call the United Way 211 Helpline for assistance. The Centenary church, apart from being a warming center, plays a critical role in coordinating transport to shelters.
Those in urgent need of transportation to these shelters between 5 and 7 p.m. can avail services at designated rally points like the Urban League Women's Business Center in North City and the Loughborough Commons Parking Lot in South City, where both a warming bus and an indoor facility await them, coupled with the Metro Call-A-Ride shuttle service that includes an outreach worker along with the driver to aid in transportation. For those requiring alternative transport arrangements, the City suggests contacting the United Way 211 Helpline.
