As temperatures begin to drop, things are starting to warm up at the Warnerville Warming Center, a 10-bed Code Blue shelter, that could open as soon as November 1 for its first full winter.
Catholic Charities runs the facility for Schoharie County’s Department of Social Services in the renovated annex of the Warnerville Methodist Church.
In 2022, a dispute with the Town of Richmondville’s Code enforcement Officer shut the overnight-only warming center down after it had been open for just a few days in November.
A Zoning Board of Appeals ruling in January allowed it to reopen and with that behind it, Catholic Charities Executive Director Christy Houck said they’re expecting to find more people turning to it.
Especially since now, it will be open Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays as well.
“That’s going to be a big change,” said DSS Commissioner Donna Becker. “It’s a baby step but a big one.”
Last year, the warming center was only open Monday-Friday; when someone needed shelter over the weekend, DSS needed to find a hotel for them, Ms. Becker said.
It’s a model that could be used elsewhere—in fact, it has in Otsego County, Ms. Houck said—but it’s not without it’s challenges.
They’re still trying to work out a plan that would provide on-call transportation, Ms. Becker said, as well as a way for people to bring their pets—something that often stops them from turning to a shelter.
“That’s one more piece,” she said. “Another rung on the ladder.”
The warming center has beds for 10 people—men and women, but not families—and has the ability to do laundry for occupants as well as offer them a warm meal, Ms. Houck said.
It’s also a place where staff can help connect them with other services.
“The site worked out very well,” she said. “It’s a blessing for the people who need it, to be around people who care where they can sleep somewhere safe. It’s nice to work with like-minded people.”
The warming center will be open from November 1-March 31 whenever the temperature drops below 32 degrees—or close enough.
Because of the trouble it had opening in ’22, some people were afraid to use it and Ms. Becker said it never housed more than four a night.
Ms. Houck said she’s expecting to see more use this year.
“They were a little gun shy,” she agreed. “I think once it’s open and there’s consistency, we’ll see more people using it. There’s still a huge need. A 10-bed Code Blue shelter may or may not be enough here.”
Rev. Maryellen Moore, pastor for the Warnerville United Methodist Church, said she’s very proud of the congregation’s willingness to open the annex as a Warming Center—and the fight to keep it open.
“We have people here who’ve had their own struggles,” she said. “They understand. They’re compassionate. Sometime’s that’s all it takes to help get people back on their feet. That’s what we should all be doing.”
Especially as the number of local homeless continues to grow, an issue Schoharie County expects to spend more than $2 million this year to try to address.
“It’s here,” Ms. Houck said.
Why?
“I have the same ideas as everyone else,” she said. “The economy is hard, add in addiction and mental illness and I think we’re seeing more people living paycheck-to-paycheck. All it takes is one crisis and it just spirals from there.”