Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville opens shelter for homeless ahead of winter storm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With cold temperatures expected to grip the region, a downtown Louisville church is stepping up to help the city's homeless population stay safe.

Christ Church Cathedral on South 2nd Street is joining a pilot program called Room in the Inn, which provides shelter and warm meals for homeless individuals at churches during the winter months. Starting Monday, the cathedral will shelter 15 women and children each night. Over the next two months, the program will offer nearly 800 beds.

"The difference between getting in or sleeping out can be life or death," said Matthew Bradley, dean of Christ Church Cathedral. "This is a lifesaving ministry, and while we hate that our neighbors are going through this, we are really pleased to be able to open up this coming week."

Louisville's homeless services are ramping up ahead of frigid weather. Two white flag shelters will open, one at the Salvation Army and another at Wayside Christian Mission, providing a combined 240 beds. Several warming centers will also be available starting Sunday and Monday. Last January, at least five Kentuckians died because of winter weather.

Homelessness remains a growing crisis in Kentucky. A federal report shows more than 5,000 people were homeless in 2024, marking a nearly 10% increase from the previous year.

Bradley said Room in the Inn originated in Nashville nearly four decades ago when Rev. Charles Strobel invited people sleeping in cars in his church's parking lot to stay inside overnight. Since then, the program has expanded to more than 200 congregations in Tennessee and 36 communities nationwide.

Christ Church Cathedral began planning its participation last summer, working with neighboring organization UP for Women and Children. Bradley said it felt like a natural extension of the church's mission to open its doors to the city's most vulnerable population.

Lee Cochran, a volunteer, said the manageable size of Room in the Inn requires just six volunteers each night. She plans to help regularly.

Bradley said the long-term goal is to expand Room in the Inn to serve additional populations, including single men, two-parent families, single fathers, veterans, and the elderly.

For more information on Room at the Inn, click here.

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