Where do our most vulnerable neighbors go when it’s deadly cold outside?
For many members of our community, the answer is one of the local pop-up shelters.
But what is a pop-up shelter? It’s a warm place to rest, a hot meal, and a place to weather the storm.
This January brought snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. This led us to activate an inclement weather pop-up shelter for 13 nights to help bring people inside. Now as the month ends, we find ourselves reflecting on all who made our efforts possible. The staff who worked overtime while braving terrible road conditions, the donors who made sure we have essential items, and the volunteers who helped us make sure everyone had a warm, comforting meal. There are no pop-up shelters without your support.
Volunteers serving dinner at the pop-up shelter on Sidney Street.
“It’s my first time becoming homeless and first time in St. Louis. The pop-up shelter saved my life”
Cots filled up quickly at our pop-up shelter. We plan to re-open the pop-up shelter ahead of the next round of single-digit temperatures next week.
Thank you for helping us provide shelter and safety to some of the most vulnerable members of our community this winter. Our inclement weather pop-up shelter was open from January 5-11, and again January 18-25. We served 98 people the first week, 132 the second, and five dogs each time.
Watch, read, or listen to more local coverage about our inclement weather pop-up shelter below.
KSDK – St. Louis winter storm prompts emergency pop-up shelter
Fox 2 Now – Unhoused seek refuge from winter storm at pop-up shelters, warming centers
Total Information AM – Pet restrictions are reasons why homeless may not visit a shelter in bad weather
St. Louis-Post Dispatch – St. Louis scrambling again to find beds for homeless in cold, critics say
First Alert 4 – Warming shelters available for unhoused in St. Louis City
First Alert 4 – Peter and Paul looking to re-open pop-up warming center during anticipated cold snap
KSDK – Warming shelters opening in St. Louis and 3 area counties
