Inclement Weather and Shelter Access

Learn about the Homeless Services Cold Weather Operations and Shelter Process, and find outreach organizations

Overview

The City’s Cold Weather Operations and Shelter process includes continuous shelter availability, regardless of the forecasted temperature outside, from December 1st to March 31st.

The Department of Human Services remains committed to transitioning unhoused residents or those facing housing instability into permanent housing. Case management, meals and connection to other critical services are provided at the operating shelters to aid individuals and families in obtaining permanent housing.

This information is also available in PDF format: City of St. Louis Department of Human Services Inclement Weather Operations Fact Sheet - 2023/2024 Season

City-Funded Winter Shelter Bed Availability

  • Year-Round Beds: 744 (+23% over 2022)
  • Inclement Weather Overflow Beds: 147

Shelter Access

  • United Way’s 2-1-1 is the best resource for finding shelter & resources. To avoid overcrowding, most shelters require a referral from 2-1-1 or the GetHelp app, which centralizes data on shelter bed availability.
  • Those without phones can stop by Kaleidoscope Center at Centenary United Methodist Church, 1610 Pine St, St. Louis, MO 63103 between 5:00pm - 7:00pm during nights when the volunteer group Winter Outreach is activated in sub-20 degree weather (or 25 and under with precipitation) for referral assistance.

Daytime Warming Centers

View all daytime warming centers

  • St. Patrick Center McMurphy Day Center: 12/6-3/31, Monday-Friday 9:00am-8:00pm
  • AmeriCorps: each Tuesday 8:00am-1:00pm regardless of weather
  • St. Louis Public Library Warming Sites (Hours of operation vary per library): Baden, Barr, Buder, Cabanne, Carondelet, Carpenter, Central, Divoll, Julia Davis, Kingshighway, Machacek, Schlafly, Walnut Park
  • Senior Centers Warming Sites (warming hours are open to all, 9:00am - 3:00pm): Five Star Senior Center, Northside Youth and Senior Center, Southside Senior Citizens Center, St. Louis Activity Senior Center

Outreach Team

The City of St. Louis partners with agencies, volunteer groups and various departments within the City, to increase outreach activities and increase shelter bed availability to support unsheltered individuals and families.

Organizations who participate in outreach:

Donating Supplies

We know that there are many community members who would like to help the unhoused by providing free meals, blankets and other supplies. The best way to help would be to contact the St. Louis Continuum of Care at: cocstl.org/contact.

What’s New for Winter 2023-24

Outreach

  • DHS added two new Client Services Coordinators to expand unhoused operations
  • City-funded support for Places for People’s trauma informed outreach program
  • City-funded expansion of the St. Patrick Center McMurphy Daytime warming center
  • City-funded homelessness prevention with St. Patrick’s Center to keep up to 88 housing insecure families in their homes and the Salvation Army to assist 60 to 75 households
  • City-funded outreach services with Peter & Paul Community Services

Shelter Requirements

  • Unless otherwise noted, all city-funded year-round and winter/overflow shelters must remain in continuous, 24/7 operation and provide support services

Partnerships

  • Kaleidoscope Center at Centenary United Methodist Church as central referral point for sub 20 degree weather (or 25 and under with precipitation) in lieu of a warming bus
  • St. Louis County Homeless Services Division collaboration
  • House Everyone STL: assistance with coordinating COC and Winter Outreach activities
  • Randy Jotte from BJC Emergency Department: Frostbite Education with the CoC
  • Dep’t of Health Behavioral Health Bureau: Narcan and opioid awareness training
  • Trans Housing Initiative STL (THISTL): Providing inclusivity training for shelter providers
  • Wellston Loop CDC: providing support for outreach in Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood

Winter Outreach Alerts

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