Organizations team up to provide ‘Warm Nights’ for those in need in Greene County
So far, November and December temperatures in western Pennsylvania have been mild. But if the thermometer drops drastically this winter, the homeless and those without adequate home heating resources can look for help from a new local program.
“Greene County Warm Nights — 20° and Below” is a collaboration of individuals and multiple organizations, such as Greene County Human Services, Greene County United Way, Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach and the Salvation Army. The program will offer the homeless and those without adequate heat free overnight shelter during nights of extremely low temperatures of 20 degrees and below, temperatures that are considered life-threatening.
Those in need will have access to between four and five “Warm Nights” sites scattered across the greater Waynesburg area. Each will be open for two weeks at a time in January and February. The sites already confirmed are Greene Community Church, West Sides and the Greene County Fair Grounds. Additional sites, including one in Carmichaels, may be added in the near future.
To participate, those needing the program must call to register by 4 p.m. on the day they desire a warm place to sleep. To register and for screening, individuals and families must call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Crisis Line at 1-800-417-9460 or dial 2-1-1. For safety reasons, no walk-ins will be permitted. The overnight shelter will be open from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. from Jan. 1 through Feb. 29.
“We heard stories of many people without a home or adequate heating who live in tents or in their car and park at Wal-Mart overnight,” said Barb Wise, executive director of Greene County United Way. “This is the first year we’re instituting the program, and it’s a baby step for us. Next year, we hope to build on our experience.”
Organizers studied similar programs already in effect in two counties in central Pennsylvania and have mimicked their service plan to provide winter season shelter for the needy.
In Greene County, the Red Cross has donated 13 cots and the Salvation Army is providing blankets. After school resumes following the Christmas holidays, Waynesburg University plans to stage a blanket drive.
Participants may also bring along their own pillows and blankets, but must register each day they plan to stay in one of the shelters.
“We’ve checked the weather forecasts online for January and found out there are only two nights projected to have temperatures below 20 degrees,” Wise said. “However, we may get slammed [with cold temperatures] in February.”
Other than providing a warm place to spend the night, the program will offer light snacks like Granola bars and water, which have been donated. The service will not include meals or early morning coffee.
The Red Cross has already arranged for overnight volunteers to man the shelters, but additional caring, compassionate volunteers are needed to staff the sites on a night-to-night basis.
Volunteers are asked to have already obtained Act 34 & 35 Pennsylvania state clearances, as well as attend one 2-hour training session to be briefed on the role of “Warm Nights” volunteers.
Current training sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 9-11 a.m. and Thursday, Jan. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Sides building, located at 595 West High Street in West Waynesburg. An alternate training may be scheduled as needed.
“We’re also planning to get in touch with the Greene County Humane Society to see if they could house the pets of homeless people overnight in very cold weather,” Wise said.
For more information, to volunteer or to donate blankets, pillows, snacks and water, call Barb Wise at 724-255-5975.