Crisis cold weather shelters to open ahead of weekend winter storm

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Several cold weather shelters will be open tonight (1/3/25) as winter weather heads into the Ozarks.

Eleven volunteer-run shelter sites are available for men and women, and provide overnight shelter when temperatures fall below 32° between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

According to Community Partnership of the Ozarks, the decision to open the shelters is made by 2 p.m. each day of the winter season (which runs from Nov. 1 to March 31). To check whether shelters will be open, you can call the crisis cold weather shelter direct line at 417-290-3110 or visit The Connecting Grounds or East Sunshine Church of Christ Men's Cold Weather Shelter on Facebook.

Those seeking a meal and shelter can go to the Veterans Coming Home Center (806 N. Jefferson Ave.) by 5:30 p.m. and will be taken to a shelter location from there on nights when shelters are open.

Shelters include:

• East Sunshine Church of Christ
• Grace United Methodist
• Fairbanks
• Unity of Springfield
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church
• YouthConnect Center
• The GLO Center
• Harbor House
• Brentwood Christian Church
• National Avenue Christian Church
• St. John's Episcopal Church
• Eden Village 1 (overflow)
• Venues 245 (overflow)

For a list with exact locations and contact information for each shelter, visit cpozarks.org/programs/ccws/.