LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With colder temperatures on the way, Louisville organizations are working to keep those without shelter indoors.
Wayside Christian Mission and St. Vincent de Paul both operate as white flag shelters. This means when the temperature is below 35 degrees with wind chill, the shelters will open for overnight stays despite the number of available beds.
"Even though beds may be filled, we will continue to take people in as long as we possibly have safe space to put them," said Nina Moseley, chief operations officer of Wayside Christian Mission
Moseley says the shelter is expecting hundreds of people to spend the night. While COVID-19 is a concern with a potentially crowded shelter, the organization says keeping people out of the cold at night is the priority.
"The most immediate threat when it gets down to the 20s is definitely going to be freezing to death outside," said Moseley. "If they don't have a mask, we'll provide them with a mask when they come into the shelter. We do everything we can to keep people safe. Our interest is their health and their welfare so we do anything we can, it's very important."
Wayside asks people to call the shelter if they are concerned about someone being outside overnight. The shelter will send an outreach person to offer them a place to warm up or other resources.
The Salvation Army has its traditional overnight 24/7 shelter. But, it no longer offers services as a white flag shelter. The previous designated space has been converted to a daytime shelter. The Salvation Army says the new space helps integrate people to its full-time shelter.
"It brings more accountability where we're just not having someone come out and sleep and go into the weather, we have the opportunity to help them," said Capt. Jimmy Parrish, area commander for The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army's daytime shelter is open no matter the weather.
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