Warming Shelter
This winter, FOCUS Cincinnati is proud to launch the first-ever Warming Shelter in Norwood to provide a safe and welcoming space for our neighbors in need during freezing temperatures. Here’s everything you need to know about this vital program, below.
What Is a Warming Shelter?
A warming shelter offers refuge from extreme cold, ensuring the safety and well-being of those without reliable access to heat. Our shelter will:
- Open when temperatures drop to 20°F or below, following Cincinnati’s standards.
- Operate for a minimum of three consecutive days during extreme cold.
- Be open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM, providing a safe, warm environment with meals and relaxation.
- Partner with Shelter House to arrange overnight accommodations for guests who need them.
- Be located at Christ Temple FGB Church, 2141 Williams Avenue, Norwood, OH.
Why Does Norwood Need a Warming Shelter?
Norwood faces significant challenges tied to life expectancy and food insecurity:
- Residents in Norwood have an average life expectancy 10 years shorter than those in other parts of Hamilton County.
- Food insecurity is a major predictor of life expectancy. Our shelter will provide three nutritious meals daily to combat this issue.
- Norwood lacks an established place for residents to seek warmth when their heat fails or when living unhoused during frigid weather.
- Public spaces, like the Norwood Library, report seeing up to 10 people daily seeking refuge from the cold, further highlighting the need for a dedicated shelter.
How Does the Warming Shelter Work?
Through a partnership with Christ Temple FGB Church, we will offer:
- A safe, warm environment for guests from 6 AM to 6 PM.
- Three meals per day, prepared and served on-site.
- Entertainment, including access to TV, to help guests relax and feel comfortable.
- Paid security staff to ensure safety for everyone.
How Long Will the Shelter Be Open?
Our current funding allows us to operate for at least 14 days this winter, aligning closely with Cincinnati’s average of 15 freezing days annually.
- Weather in Cincinnati can be unpredictable. If additional freezing days occur, we will evaluate extending our services.
- This is a pilot program, and we’ll assess its success and make improvements in collaboration with local experts, including Strategies to End Homelessness and shelter leaders from Cincinnati.
How You Can Help
The success of this shelter depends on the dedication of our community. We are actively seeking volunteers to:
- Assist with meal preparation and serving.
- Help create a welcoming environment for our guests.
- Provide logistical and operational support.
Please click the button below to fill out our volunteer interest form.
Local Partners
Holy Trinity-Saint Nicholas
Provided dinner meals for each of our dinners along with kitchen use for the Warming Shelter. At the shelter there are no ovens, so using the ovens at HTSN has been a crucial link in providing hot food at the Shelter. www.htsnchurch.org
Panera Bread
We receive weekly donations from Panera on Tuesdays. We have been using the bagels, bread and other bakery items at the Warming Shelter.
LaSoupe
LaSoupe is a non-profit that supplies schools, warming shelters, and other non-profits with free meals. They have a variety of programs that are around healthy eating. Right now they are providing lunches that have a protein, starch, salad and dessert to the Warming Shelter each day it is open. www.lasoupe.org
