West Side Columbus Loses Vital warming Centre as Community Shelter Board Adjusts Winter Strategy
A critical overnight warming center on Columbus’s West Side will not reopen this winter, leaving vulnerable residents at increased risk as temperatures plummet. The decision, made by the Community Shelter Board (CSB), reflects a shift in resource allocation aimed at maximizing impact throughout the entire winter season, but has sparked concern among those who relied on the center’s services last year.
A Lifeline Lost for West Side Residents
MY Project USA, located on Sullivant Avenue, provided shelter for over 170 individuals last winter. The institution’s founder and executive director, Zerqa Abid, expressed deep disappointment, stating, “As an organization, I feel extremely sad that we are not able to host neighbors who are outside on the street.” the center offered not only a safe, warm place to sleep but also crucial support services that helped many secure permanent housing.
Tammy Thompson, a former guest of the center, credits the program with transforming her family’s life. “When we got here, we had people that really helped us out,” Thompson shared. “If it wasn’t for them,I don’t no where we would be.” She now worries about those who will be left without access to this vital resource. “There are so many homeless people on the West Side… living in cars, outside, in the alleys,” Thompson explained. “This is perilous weather. Somebody can die from hypothermia.”
Abid emphasized the holistic benefits of the warming center, noting, “It’s not just that they are getting a warm place to stay.They are getting peace of mind and attention from people who can help them get back on their feet.” She affirmed that MY Project USA is prepared to reopen immediately should additional funding become available, stating, “100% – if I’m told we are opening tomorrow, we are ready.”
CSB Cites Strategic Resource Allocation
The Community Shelter Board maintains that the decision was not driven by a lack of funds, but by a strategic approach to resource allocation. A senior official stated that the board is “pacing the funding to ensure readiness for the entire winter and maximizing impact.”
The CSB also announced that one of the four overnight warming centers opening in January will be dedicated to serving young adults aged 18-24, a demographic previously underserved in the winter response plan. According to a statement released by the board, warming center selection is an annual process based on factors including staffing capacity, building suitability, geographic distribution, and target populations.
Shifting Landscape of Winter Shelter in Columbus
This year’s decision results in one fewer overnight warming center compared to last year. However, the CSB’s Chief System Effectiveness officer, Steve Skovensky, clarified that the total number of available beds – 160 – will remain consistent with the baseline from last year.Skovensky explained that the centers are opening in phases, aligning with historical data showing peak utilization in January and February. “Last year, the greatest utilization was in January and February,” he said. “we want to pace and be ready when the weather hits extreme.”
last winter, Columbus warming centers received a total of $2.9 million in funding ($2 million initially, plus an additional $900,000 approved by City Council during severe weather), which facilitated the addition of 40 beds. Skovensky indicated that additional funding would enable the opening of more sites.
Despite the loss of the MY Project USA location, the CSB insists it remains committed to providing overnight shelter options for everyone in need.”We will continue the commitment that there are overnight options for everyone seeking safe shelter this winter,” the board stated.
However, Abid fears the absence of a West Side location will leave a critical gap in services. “And it’s just a huge loss for these people,” she lamented. “How can we be at peace knowing our neighbors don’t have access this year?”
