As frigid temperatures continue, local groups are making more space available to shelter the area’s homeless population.
Both the Salvation Army Center of Hope Women’s Shelter and Men’s Shelter of Charlotte have increased their capacity.
Urban Ministry Center which manages the Room in the Inn program is encouraging those in need to come to their facility. Room in the Inn coordinates emergency shelter beds with local churches, colleges, and YMCA’s.
The center’s director, Dale Mullennix, says the best thing the public can do is alert the organization if they see people in need of warm housing.
"If people see somebody on the street we would appreciate them going to our website where there is a place where you can register what you saw and where it was," Mullennix said. "Our outreach team will go out and find those people. Just be on the alert for people that you see on the corner that look vulnerable and let us know."
Mecklenburg County has not opened any warming stations yet. At this point, county officials say there’s still enough room in shelters to meet the need.
