Santa Rosa City Manager Maraskeshia Smith has directed the opening of a temporary drop-in warming center in downtown Santa Rosa beginning tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 22, through Saturday morning, Feb. 25. The opening of the warming center is in response to forecasted weather conditions from the National Weather Service (NWS), which call for cold, rain, wind, and snow possible throughout the North Bay this week, and overnight sub-freezing temperatures in Santa Rosa through Saturday morning. The City’s Extreme Weather Warming Center Policy directs the opening of the warming center whenever the NWS forecasts three consecutive days with overnight lows below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, or three consecutive nights of rainfall with extreme risk levels as determined by the NWS, or a combination of these two extreme weather events.
The warming center, which is operated by the City’s primary homeless services provider, Catholic Charities, is located at Caritas Center at 301 6th St. Suite 108; the entrance is on Morgan and 6th Streets. Operating hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., except on Saturday morning when it will remain open until 9 a.m. The Caritas Center facility has indoor space to host up to 78 individuals and covered outdoor space warmed by radiant heaters to host up to an additional 12 individuals. The warming center is a drop-in place to warm up and charge devices; it is not a shelter, and no cots for sleeping will be available. However, individuals who seek indoor emergency shelter will be provided with a referral. The City is notifying community members of the warming center opening, including outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Rosa.
Residents needing homeless services during daytime may use the Homeless Services Center, also at Caritas Center. It is open year-around, regardless of weather conditions on Monday through Friday from 6 - 11 a.m. and 1 - 5:30 p.m.[KK1] (limited services on Thursdays). The Center provides showers, telephone, mail service, referrals, shelter intake services, and more.
The City in consultation with the NWS will continue to monitor the weather. Visit SRCity.org/ExtremeCold to learn more about cold weather preparedness, including safety tips.