Some of the most common questions we receive about the warming shelter are addressed below.
Will the shelter be open tonight/tomorrow?
Whether or not the shelter will be open on a given day is dependent on weather conditions. Generally, the decision is made on a day by day basis. To find out if the shelter will be open on a particular night, please call 573-222-0914 after 9AM.
What criteria determine whether the shelter is open?
Our Warming Center uses a combination of weather factors to decide when to open. The primary temperature-based criteria are:
- 27° or below or
- 32° or below with precipitation
However, we recognize that cold-weather danger isn’t based on temperature alone. We also consider other hazardous conditions, including:
- Excessive cold for our local area
- Low wind chills
- Freezing or frozen precipitation
- Frost or rapidly dropping conditions
We truly do our best to err on the side of caution, but conditions can change throughout the day. Because conditions can change quickly, we rely on up-to-date guidance from local weather stations to make the safest and most informed decision possible.
Please know this: We care deeply. We never want anyone to feel forgotten or left out in the cold. At the same time, we have to follow consistent parameters so we can protect guests, volunteers, and the sustainability of the Warming Center throughout the whole season.
Where is the shelter located?
The shelter is located within Grace United Methodist Church at 521 Caruthers Ave in Cape Girardeau, MO. Please click here for directions.
What are the shelter’s hours?
On days that the shelter is open, current hours are 7PM to 7AM.
Who can stay at the shelter?
Everyone is welcome at our shelter. We are a low-barrier shelter, requiring only minimal paperwork and no formal identification process.
I am interested in volunteering, where can I find more info?
Please review our volunteer handout for a brief overview of what volunteering at the warming shelter entails. If you are ready so sign-up, you may do so here. First time volunteers should arrive 15 minutes early for their shift to allow time for a brief onboarding session with one of our trained shift leads.