LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville organizations are preparing to help people experiencing homelessness during this weekend’s cold temperatures.

Operation White Flag is underway at the Salvation Army and Wayside Christian Mission.

What You Need To Know

  • Operation White Flag is underway at the Salvation Army and Wayside Christian Mission

  • During extreme temperatures, Operation White Flag can get underway so some shelters can take in extra people

  • During Operation White Flag, Wayside Christian Mission has helped an additional 180 people

  • The Salvation Army has 30 beds for single men and 10 for single women

When temperatures are dropping, the white flag outside Wayside Christian Mission goes up.

“The shelters who participate in white flag will hang a white flag outside the shelter and that way folks know when they go by the shelter, they know, hey, I better get inside some place,” said Nina Moseley, Chief Operating Officer, Wayside Christian Mission.

Wayside Christian Mission normally provides shelter for around 600 people on both of its campuses; but, during operation white flag, it has served up to an additional 180 people in its emergency shelter.

“It’s important for people to know as cold as it’s going to be, for example, tonight, it is life threatening to our people that are trying to survive,” Moseley said.

She said they are preparing for Sunday’s winter weather by getting more beds and food ready.

“We do have some bunks we’ve moved into our tv rooms for women and families, and then for the men, we have floor mats that we provide linens and also all sorts of extra pillows and so forth. So, we’re getting all that together,” the chief operating officer said.

Wayside Christian Mission hopes to earn the trust of people who come in during Operation White Flag to help them find a secure home in the future.

“It’s what we do, and it’s very rewarding when we see people who are being well taken care of and who are actually on the road to their own permanent housing,” she said.

Moseley is encouraging people to call Wayside Christian Mission if they see someone staying outside. Moseley said they’ll try to get them the help they need.

The Salvation Army is also taking part in Operation White Flag. It has 30 beds for single men and 10 for single women.

For this storm, Hope International AOH Church of God, will open at 2 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 5, 2025, as a daytime warming center.

Some public libraries and “Neighborhood Places” will be open tomorrow as well to keep people warm.

Additional warming centers will open on Jan. 6, 2025.

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