Local homeless shelters, City of South Bend brace work to keep people safe during freezing temperatures

Warm beds, snacks and to go boxes are just some of the necessities provided by local shelters in Downtown South Bend as they work to keep those experiencing homelessness off the streets and some place warm.

Sheila McCarthy, Executive Director of the New Day Intake Center, which runs Motels4Now is taking the extra step to make sure people don't have to go out in the cold to search for food.

"We provide a hot lunch and a hot dinner every day, seven days a week to all of our guests, and we have a food pantry for breakfast and snacks," McCarthy explained. "So having to not go off site to look for meals, not have to go downtown, it gives people the option of being able to stay right here on site, especially when it's really cold and people have mobility issues. They can't move around as well in the in the snow and ice," she continued.

Just up the road is Steve Camilleri, Executive Director for Center for the Homeless. Camilleri says they're seeing more than double bed stays than they saw last winter. There have been 6,500 bed stays this winter, while there 2,500 bed stays last winter.

Luckily, Camilleri says he has exactly what people will need.

"They're going to have their beds, pillows, blankets. They have storage here, access to laundry, showers, bathrooms."

He continued, "...then when it is that extreme weather we're going to have our availability all day long, where most people come in at 8 p.m. and they leave at 8 a.m., they're probably going to want to stay all day and stay out of the elements."

Camilleri thanked the City of South Bend who he partners with to help keep people indoors.

Carl Hetler is the Coordinator of Homeless Outreach within the Department of Community Investment. He heads up the City's efforts to protect all who live there, including those experiencing homelessness. Hetler shared there are warming centers throughout the city and that people working there are prepared for whatever comes through the door.

"Community centers like Howard Park and the Dream Center are seeing people come in when they need to warm up during the day, and staff are trained there to know about the resources that we have available for food, for clothing, for other services that are in need," said Hetler.

"We've done de-escalation training with those staff also so they can handle people who are going through the trauma of being out in the cold."

Hetler shared other resources for those looking to stay warm throughout the day:

Charles Black Community Center: 3419 W Washington St.

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. To 5 p.m.

Closed on Saturday's and Sunday's

Howard Park Event Center: 219 S St. Louis Blvd. (December 2025-March 2026)

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

O'Brien Fitness Center: 321 E. Walter St.

Monday-Thursday: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday: 5 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: 6 a.m. - 3 a.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Center: 1522 Linden Ave

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.