With temperatures plunging into the single digits and wind chill coefficients dipping below zero at times, the Baltimore Mayor's Office of Homeless Services has activated services for homeless people and others in need of cold relief, spokesperson Jessica Dortch said. Emergency shelter conditions for offices said Wednesday.
Baltimore's interim health commissioner, Mary Beth Haller, has declared a blue extreme cold alert Thursday, saying the forecast calls for temperatures below 13 degrees, including wind chill.
It represents a warning that these conditions can cause hypothermia, frostbite and other threats to health, and can even be fatal to those with long-term exposure to these conditions.
The Office of Homeless Services has developed the Winter Shelter and Code Purple Program, a set of protocols designed to provide warming centers, food, shelter and shelter to anyone in need between November 1 and March 31 transportation.
The emergency is in effect when temperatures fall below 32 degrees, including wind chill.
The city is working with local partners to provide five warming centers and five overnight shelters. Dortch said Wednesday afternoon that everything is up and running and outreach teams are looking for people across the city who need help.
She added that the office tracks attendance at each facility, and while many facilities are busy, Dortch said the office keeps those numbers confidential.
Anyone in need of assistance is asked to call the city’s shelter hotline at 443-984-9540, with calls answered by 9 p.m.
Dortch said the emergency overnight shelter will open as usual at 4 p.m., and guests can stay until 9 a.m. the next day.
For overnight stays, the Fairfield Inn at 101 S. President St. accepts singles, couples and families.
The Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) is located at 301 North High Street and is open to single men.
The Weinberg Housing and Resource Center at 620 Fallsway is open to single women.
Randolph said if those locations are filled, single adults at the Robert C. Marshall Recreation Center at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. and the former Louis T. Murray at 1600 E. Arlington Ave. Overcapacity housing is available to families at the Lois T. Murray Special Education School.
The city also helps operate the warming center at Beans and Bread on South Bond Street, the Franciscan Center on West 23rd Street, the Manna House on East 25th Street, the My Sister's Place Women's Center (women and children only) on West Franklin, and Weinberg Housing and Resource Center in Fallsway.
My Sister's Place is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and the Weinberg Center is open from 9 am to 4 pm.
Meanwhile, Baltimore County activated its cold weather plan, leaving numerous overnight spaces at two emergency sites.
One is located at the Woodlawn Library at 1811 Woodlawn Avenue in Woodlawn. The other is the Eastern Family Resource Center at 9150 Franklin Square Drive in Rosedale.
Homeless residents can call 410-887-8463 and select option 1 to speak with a Baltimore County Department of Social Services screener to help determine shelter options.
Anne Arundel residents have another long-term plan available to them.
The Anne Arundel House of Hope, located at 7164 E. Furnace Branch Road in Glen Burnie, has a day center open until 3:30 p.m. every day so residents can come in, relax, check out Cell phone and heat.
House of Hope also offers a winter relief program for homeless people from October to March. More than 40 houses of worship participate in the program, which is open to people seeking overnight shelter for one week throughout the season.
Meals, companionship, activities and spiritual guidance are provided at the host location.
According to the House of Hope website, anyone experiencing homelessness or needing resources or services in Anne Arundel County can contact the Coordinated Entry Screening Hotline at 410-417-7260 Monday through Friday.
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