Ramsey County has designated two overnight winter warming spaces for the homeless, which will be supported by the county’s free shuttle van service. As of Wednesday, Catholic Charities’ St. Paul Opportunity Center at 422 Dorothy Day Place is the county’s official overnight location for single adults and couples.

On Dec. 1, Central Baptist Church at 420 N. Roy St. will begin accepting families and young people ages 14 to 24 overnight.

The warming space locations will remain open every night from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. through the end of March, with seating, blankets, light snacks and hot beverages such as hot cocoa and coffee. Warming essentials like hats and gloves also will be provided to those in need of cold weather supplies, according to a written announcement from Ramsey County.

The county has extended its hours from last year, when warming spaces opened at 9:30 p.m. nightly and closed at 6:30 a.m.

The warming spaces are opening two weeks earlier than last year and have added a month at the end of the season to accommodate any lingering cold temperatures.

To facilitate referrals to available warming spaces or shelter beds, Ramsey County staff will answer calls at 651-266-1050 and respond to emails sent to ColdWeatherReferrals@ramseycounty.us between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The county’s shuttle van service will collect those in need from designated pick-up points daily between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

The National Weather Service and Farmer’s Almanac have released dueling predictions for Minnesota, with the weather service forecasting a mild winter, above-average temperatures and less precipitation than usual, and the almanac predicting colder temperatures and above-normal snowfall. Temperatures on Wednesday were expected to flirt with 60 degrees.

Hubbard said if temperatures fall and demand picks up, the county could designate more warming spaces and pick-up points. During heavy snowfall last year, the county transported homeless residents to the Union Gospel Mission, the Phalen Activity Center and a Newell Park building.

For more information on warming spaces, visit ramseycounty.us/WarmingSpaces.

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