Warming centers and respite spots are available across metro Detroit as dangerously cold winds sweep across the region this week.
Detroiters looking to escape chilly temperatures can walk into two emergency locations for overnight shelter or visit a city recreation center or library branch for warmth. Warming centers are also available across Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties.
The National Weather Service in White Lake issued a cold weather advisory through noon Wednesday, with wind chills dropping to -15 to -25 and frigid conditions.
“This kind of cold is deadly for people living on the streets,” said Tim McCabe, president and CEO of the Detroit-based Pope Francis Center, in a news release over the weekend.
More: Should I warm up my car before driving on frigid winter days?
How to get into shelters, warming centers
Detroit: There are two emergency overnight respite locations through 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Residents can walk in, without a referral, or call the City of Detroit’s Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520, according to a news release. The respite locations are:
- The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries: 13130 Woodward Ave.
- The Pope Francis Center: 2915 West Hancock
Over the weekend, the Pope Francis Center opened the gym of its Bridge Housing Campus as an emergency shelter for those facing homelessness until Wednesday and is providing three meals a day. The center has a capacity for 100 emergency shelter beds and is currently housing 41 people. Guests are asked to not leave the site during that time. To stay at the Bridge Housing Campus, people can walk in or call the Pope Francis Center at 313-964-2823 (ext. 201), according to the nonprofit’s website.
The city of Detroit is operating more than 1,400 shelter and warming center beds with its partners. To get into shelters and warming centers, families and individuals must call the Coordinated Assessment Model, or CAM — the main way for people facing homelessness in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park to access housing help. To reach CAM this week, those in need of shelter can call the Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For more information, go to camdetroit.org.
People can also go to an in-person CAM site at the following locations:
- Cass Community Social Services: 11850 Woodrow Wilson St.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday
- NOAH at Central: 23 E. Adams Ave. (second floor); 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday
Wayne County: For a round-up of warming centers, go to https://bit.ly/4gfJAhi.
Macomb County: For a list of warming centers in Macomb County, go to bit.ly/MacombCountyWarmingCenters. The list was updated in November 2024.
Oakland County: For a map of available warming centers, go to bit.ly/3CjF2Zi.
Respite spots and libraries
Detroit recreation centers and public libraries are available during regular operating hours, but not for overnight shelter.
The Detroit Public Library main library in Midtown is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. For neighborhood library branch hours, go detroitpubliclibrary.org.
Here is a list of City of Detroit recreation centers and when they are open, according to a news release:
- Adams Butzel Complex: 10500 Lyndon; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
- Butzel Family Center: 7737 Kercheval Ave.; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Clemente Recreation Center: 2631 Bagley; 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Community Center at AB Ford: 100 Lenox; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
- Crowell Recreation Center: 16630 Lahser; 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Farwell Recreation Center: 2711 E. Outer Drive; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Heilmann Recreation Center: 19601 Crusade; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
- Kemeny Recreation Center: 2260 S. Fort; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
- Lasky Recreation Center: 13200 Fenelon; 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Northwest Activities Center: 18100 Meyers; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
- Patton Recreation Center: 2301 Woodmere; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR.
