RALEIGH, N.C. — With winter weather and frigid temperatures settling in over the next few days, people who are homeless are in need of a warm and safe place to stay.
What You Need To Know
Rev. Vance Haywood operates an overnight shelter for people who need a safe and warm place during winter weather
Despite COVID-19 challenges like social distancing guidelines and staffing shortages, his white flag shelter is open
While the shelter can sleep up to 120 people, there is an additional location in case of overflow
Rev. Vance Haywood on Thursday made preparations to convert an emergency shelter into an overnight shelter for members of the homeless community. Part of the process includes setting up an outdoor heated tent for people to stay dry and warm during the intake process.
During the winter storm last weekend, Haywood, of St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church, says he reached capacity, which is 120 people. He says he’s prepared for the upcoming winter weather on Friday. Despite challenges that come with navigating the pandemic, such as staffing shortages and a limited number of beds due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols, he is glad to be open for the community.
“When we have inclement weather, when it’s wet and it’s cold, we know that just exacerbates it,” Haywood said. “We fill up and we know that. We open at 5 o’clock and usually within the first hour and a half, we’re full already.”
Haywood also gathers snacks to hand out to people as they walk in.
“It can mean a great deal because for some of the folks coming through the doors, this will be the first thing they’ve had to eat all day," he said.
His shelter will also give people other meals during their visit, including breakfast and coffee every morning.
Haywood’s shelter is called a white flag shelter because when the temperature is 35 degrees or colder, they put up a white flag outside. It’s a signal to people without a roof over their head that they can come inside to spend the night.
“We have folks that come in, and we have a chance to talk to them, and they’re extremely grateful. They have amazing gratitude. Many of them will chip in and try to help us get the work done,” Haywood said. “And so there’s an overwhelming sense of gratitude, which is not why we do it, but that is there. It also gives us a chance to connect with folks and get to know people.”
He is prepared to operate the overnight shelter through the weekend. And if there is any overflow, he and his team have a plan in place to send people to another location.
Haywood knows the white flag shelter is a temporary fix to the growing homelessness problem. The goal is to get a more permanent and bigger space where people can go when they need a place to sleep during severe weather.