Warming Centers Seeing Nearly Double Their Nightly Average

With temperatures in the Bozeman area plummeting to well below zero, folks without a place to live are naturally flocking to our area Warming Centers. Also, with the pandemic reaching nearly a year, the number of people who are homeless is on the rise.

According to a news release from the HRDC, their Warming Centers in Bozeman and Livingston are experiencing a heartbreaking rise in the number of people trying to find a warm place to spend the night. Both Warming Centers have seen increases with a combined average of 95 individuals per night. This is nearly double the number those Warming Centers were serving a year ago.

Many are wondering if it's time for a year-round, full-day shelter.

"It is important to note that with these frigid temperatures, most of the resources our community members without housing typically rely on are not there for them right now due to COVID. This ties directly to our community’s need for a year-round, full-day emergency shelter, which Community First Griffin Place will bring,” says HRDC CEO & President Heather Grenier.

Brian Guyer, HRDC Housing Director, added this: “In previous years, our neighbors might have been able to seek warmth during the day at school, work, or in public places. Now, many of these places are at limited capacity or completely closed. COVID-19 has clearly affected more people in our community than might be visible. While some continue to work from home, others have seen their hours cut, lost jobs, or worse, are no longer housed. We know much of our area struggles with an already tough housing market, COVID, and now below zero temperatures, isn’t making it any easier."
For more info

Here's how the HRDC describes their Warming Centers on their website:

Our Warming Center is a public facility offering seasonal shelter to anyone in need, including families with children, single adults, and couples. The space provides each individual or group with separate sleeping areas. Trained staff and volunteers are on-site at all times during operating hours.