TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The Wabash Valley Homeless Coalition called upon the Pathways Day Center in Terre Haute to provide a heating center. They will be open for 24-hour sheltering and meals.
Each winter in the Wabash Valley, hundreds of people are left without a warm place to seek shelter. Pathways manager Charity Mouck says the warming center is opening to those who regularly live on the streets or places not meant for habitation.
“We would welcome them to come here and stay safe, they can shelter. We are pet-friendly as well,” Mouck said. “We do have rules like anything, but we are open for those who really need the shelter in those life-threatening weather situations.”
Terre Haute HR executive director Anne-Therese Ryan says the warming center is crucial to serving the homeless population, as extreme weather conditions in the winter and summer seasons can cause health issues.
“Our coalition here in town, our Wabash Valley Homeless Coalition, they helped develop that plan,” Ryan said. “Part of that is we have to have the warming center open and available to folks, because that’s the only way we’re really going to be able to save lives is if we have that place for people to go.”
Mouck says the warming center will open on a weather-monitoring basis, which is when the temperature outside feels like 0 degrees or below, but those in need will still have an opportunity to get out of the cold.
“This Pathways Drop-In Day Center operates during the week, has open public access hours,” Mouck said. “Even if we’re not open for the warming center, individuals can still come here in our open public access hours to receive shelter.”
Pathways officials say they are looking for any extra volunteers and/or donations this holiday season.
