ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Residents are urging Asheboro to open up a warming center for the unhoused community during the frigid overnight hours.
“It is too cold, and we have the resources. We have the places. Why not open the doors?” said Kenita Matthews-White, the founder of Grace Given.
Nonprofits and churches came together to host a warming center over the past few years, but that building is no longer available. It was at the Eastside Gym off of Franks Street, but after a day care moved in next door, they could no longer use the space.
“It is a lot. Being cold is nothing that anybody wants to be in,” Matthews-White said.
There are frigid temperatures, icy conditions and possibly snow on the way.
“This is not what God wants for his people. This is not what God intends for his people to go through,” Matthews-White said.
Matthews-White ran the warming center for the past few years and works with the unhoused day in and day out.
“We feed them a hot meal, so anybody from the city is welcome to come here,” Matthews-White said at Our Daily Bread.
But once the sun sets, there is no place to go in Asheboro to stay warm.
“We went and bought heaters for them. We went and made sure people had kerosene. Made sure people had the propane tanks for this weather,” Matthews-White said.
She says what they really need is a heated building.
“There is no reason why we should not have doors open. There is no reason why you are treating people like this,” Matthews-White said.
She wants to the city to open up the recreation center, but a statement from the city says in part:
“Designated emergency shelters are designed to be utilized in the event of an emergency declaration. Outside of an officially declared emergency event, the city of Asheboro does not play a role related to the opening of warming centers. City officials currently are assessing the situation and will continue to monitor conditions to take informed action.”
But Matthews-White says there is no more time to waste.
“I am doing something about it by coming on here and being a voice for them. Open up the doors and have stuff for them to come in so they can be warm,” Matthews-White said.
In the past few years when the warming center was open, they averaged about 30 to 40 people a night, so Matthews-White says the need is great.
With more frigid temps and snow in the forecast, Matthews-White hopes they can find a solution soon for the unhoused community.
