“You know, we provide a warm spot for these folks to ride out the night and stay out of the cold,” New Orleans Office of Homeland Security Director, Collin Arnold said.
While everyone works to stay warm, the unhoused community has been a priority during a week of abnormally cold weather. That’s why the Office of Homeland Security is working with a local recreation center to help those without a warm place to stay.
“Most people have friends, family, their own residences where they can stay warm, but unfortunately some do not, and that's who this is really geared towards,” Arnold said.
From Monday through Thursday, the Rosenwald Center helped over 90 people who had nowhere else to go. Now, they’re going the extra mile again, providing a cot and hot meals to those in need.
The Rosenwald warming shelter will close its doors on January 22, a Nola Ready spokesperson told WWL Louisiana.
“We know that when persons are coming here, often they have needs. So we definitely have to make sure that we’re able to provide a meal for them,” NORD CEO, Larry Barabino, Jr said.
Earlier in the week, every cot in the Rosenwald Center Annex was full. Tonight, they opened their sports facility to accommodate even more people. The city is providing transportation for unhoused people who don’t have a way to get there.
“We keep going and we keep, reaching out throughout the night. When it starts getting really cold, two, three, four in the morning, our folks are still out there,” Arnold said.
For a full list of warming centers and shelters in the area, click here.
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