WINCHESTER, Ky. — New warming centers have opened in Clark County to help reduce the amount of people who are unhoused during winter temperatures. 

For most people, Sunday means relaxation. But for the Achieving Recovery Together (A.R.T) Recovery Community Center, it means all hands on deck to serve their community as a new warming center.

The center prides itself as a place for community-wide sober social activities, workshops, meetings, and connections. It was founded by JuaNita Everman, who struggled with addiction, being unhoused herself.

Now the center has a dual purpose: To take care of those unhoused and most vulnerable in winter temperatures, in addition to guiding through the journey of recovery.

Latonya Jarman works at A.R.T and handles daily operations like answering the phone and greeting people as they need services at the center. Jarman is on a recovery journey herself – she’s 16 months into the road of wellness after a five-year addiction.

Jarman is most likely the first person you’ll see inside of A.R.T, and you’ll always find her smiling.

“I’m here in case anybody wants to come into the warming center, get warm, come in, get a snack or come in and decide today’s the day to go to treatment,” she said.

Jarman is getting her life back on track while being a very valuable resource for people in her same shoes. It’s something she doesn’t take lightly.

“It feels good to be a part of the solution instead of the problem. So it feels really good to give back and help others,” said Jarman.

A.R.T’s warming center is operating from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. when temperatures reach 32 and below.

“There’s several in this group, Clark County Community Services, Clark County Homeless Coalition, Broadway Christian Church, Central Baptist Church, The Beacon of Hope and A.R.T. So we all meet and come together and try to figure out a way that we can help the people who need help. Just the basic needs of a house, of a home and of being warm,” said Everman. 

Everman founded A.R.T. She's 26 years sober and knows what it feels like to be unhoused and recovering.

“There’s people in need now that have never asked for help before. They need to know that this community is there to help,” said Everman.

The center offers hot coffee, microwavable meals, bike locks and dog crates for people coming into the center in addition to peer support for those recovering. 

Everman says only a handful of people have used their warming center since it opened in December so they’re hoping more people in the community will take advantage of it. The city of Winchester is urging anyone in the community if they’re able to volunteer at the various warming centers by contacting marc@cbcwinchester.com. Winchester Community Resource Facebook page is operating as a place for warming center, COVID-19 information.