COLUMBUS, Ohio — Due to the colder weather Columbus is experiencing, the Community Shelter Board has opened nine shelters to provide a safe environment to those who need it.

View a list of daytime warming stations here. 

In addition, the Community Shelther Board gave these facts and resources to Spectrum News 1:

• Nine shelters are geographically disbursed across Columbus to provide 24/7/365 response to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, providing a safe and dignified environment to meet their immediate needs and connect them with resources to regain housing stability. Working in system congruency – dedicated, around-the-clock shelter staff act as first responders, providing intake for community members, navigating housing options, and keeping men, women, and families safe every single day and night of the year.
• The 24-hour homeless hotline answers 10,000-plus calls a year to connect people to shelter beds or help them find better options than shelter.
• On any given night this winter, there are more than 1,200 people sleeping in Columbus shelters.
• 7,800 people slept in homeless shelters last year — 1,900 of them were children.
• Homeless shelters and warming stations play a crucial role in providing a lifeline to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. They offer a refuge from the extreme weather conditions, protecting vulnerable individuals from life-threatening exposure to cold temperatures, frostbite and hypothermia.
• If you need access to an overnight shelter in Columbus, please call the centralized homeless hotline at 614-274-7000. This was a preliminarily conversation can be had and the needs of the person can be met. Please do not hesitate to call if needed. No one will be turned down.