Warming Centers across Michiana prepare for frigid weather

As temperatures continue to fall, many emergency warming centers have opened for those in need.

South Bend Warming Centers and resources:

Hope Ministries Winter Amnesty Warming Center

• Located at 121 E. Tutt St. in South Bend
• Opens every night from 8 p.m. at night until 7:30 a.m.
• 55 person capacity

Doulos Chapel Warming Center

• Located at 608 S. Saint Joseph St. in South Bend
• Open Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• There will be a food pantry on Sunday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, February 10 after service from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Food and clothing will be given away at that time.

Center for the Homeless 

• Located at 813 S Michigan St in South Bend

The City of Elkhart is providing a few winter amnesty locations and resources. 

Faith Mission is normally a homeless shelter for men in Elkhart and has a winter amnesty location for overnight guests open through the end of the March.

The center will open its lobby during the day.

Faith Mission - Day Winter Amnesty

• Located at 801 Benham Ave in Elkhart
• No warrant check
• Saturday, Jan. 26 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 27 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 28 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 1 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Faith Mission - Night Winter Amnesty

• Located at 801 Benham Ave in Elkhart
• Open until March 31, 2019
• 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• Warrant Check required

"For the warming station and the winter amnesty folks, there's not programming side of things that we offer other than to get out of the cold weather and food, and the meals, basic services is what we provide for these folks," said Ross Swihart, Faith Mission's Executive Director.

Guidance Ministries is a homeless shelter based in Elkhart that is adding an extra day onto their normal operation days due to the frigid temperatures.

The CEO and Director of Guidance Ministries said during temperatures like this , a large number of homeless people leave their belongings behind in search for indoors.

"They can deal with temperatures clear down into the twenties but when we're talking single digits and below that you're gonna find an influx that they will actually abandon their cars and their tents and stuff and they'll go where it's warm,” said CEO and Executive Director, Lori King.

Guidance Ministries Day Winter Amnesty

• Located at 216 N 2nd St in Elkhart
• Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 30 from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Church
• Thursday, Jan. 31 from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

The City of Warsaw will also host a daytime warming center for residents: 

Pete Thorn Center 

• Located at 800 North Park Ave
• Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Open starting Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. 

Michiana Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc

• Located at 2439 S. 11th Street, Niles
• Cold weather relief from Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. to Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.
• Televisions, restrooms, children's play area, tables and chairs are available

Fellowship Missions 

• Located at 1520 Winona Ave
• Daytime cold weather relief open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Open Monday through Saturday 
• Nighttime cold weather relief check-in is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Individuals staying overnight may leave check-in but must return no alter than 8 p.m. to keep their spot. 

Starke County is also working on preparing Warming Center.