BEAUMONT, Texas — With the arctic chill expected to cross through Southeast Texas, many people are looking for a place to keep warm.
For some, a non-profit organization called Some Other Place, will be just that.
The organization will be extending their day shelter into an overnight shelter for the first time.
The Executive Director at Some Other Place, Christopher Robertson, says that the shelter is extending their daytime services and preparing to stay open as a warming center.
“We're going to go to lunch, then after lunch do hot coco, and later in the day bring them some gumbo something to keep them warm," said Robertson.
He says that he, his staff and 30 volunteers from Victory Temple Church will be ready to keep facility doors open, if the Beaumont Salvation Army gets full.
HELP | Donate to Some Other Place
Salvation Army Case Manager Elizabeth Rodriguez says that the salvation army is adding a 24-hour warming station to their existing 40-bed overnight shelter.
She says that what the shelter is really in need of, is volunteers.
"We hope to be getting some through the VA, and hopefully they will because we really are short staffed," said Rodriguez.
- Henry's Place/Some Other Place
- Address: 590 Center Street
- Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Services: Breakfast, Lunch, Warm Shelter
- Capacity: Approximately 44
Henry's Place is also also accepting donations of blankets and warm clothing.
- The Salvation Army (Beaumont)
- Address: 1094 McFaddin Street
- Hours of Operations: 5 p.m. - 7 a.m.
- Services: Dinner until 6 p.m., Overnight Warm Shelters
- Capacity: 60
- The Salvation Army (Orange)
- Address: 1955 Martin Luther King Jr
- Hours of Operations: 5 p.m. - 7 a.m.
- Services: Dinner until 6 p.m., Overnight Warm Shelters
- Capacity: 17
Councilman Mike Getz says that that’s where the city will step in.
"In situations like this you've got to reach out and get volunteers to come in and make sure everything runs smoothly,” said Getz.
The councilman says that the homeless coalition can help the two organizations, in order to make sure no one gets left out on the streets, in the cold.
The City of Beaumont is also working to provide "mobile warming stations" catering to the homeless by using Beaumont Transit buses.
Two buses are running starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 22 for 24 hours through Sunday, December 25, 2022.
One bus will be stopping at multiple homeless encampments across Beaumont to offer a mobile warming station.
The other will be transporting people to Some Other place and the Salvation Army.
Both non-profits need cold wear gear like jackets, coats and socks.