The Beginning - Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Project

The Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Project coordinated by Help Hotline Crisis Center began 18 years ago as community leaders came together to deal with the homeless issue during the winter months. Youngstown Police Department’s policy up to that time had been to place a homeless individual in jail overnight upon finding them on the streets or huddled in doorways.

Prior to the fall of 1990 community leaders met to develop a plan of how homeless persons can receive shelter instead of being placed in jail. The plan developed during that time period is still in effect today.

The plan was for homeless persons and/or families to call Help Hotline Crisis Center during the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. in order to receive shelter at the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. Help Hotline staff and volunteers would call the shelter to ensure there is space available. Transportation from the outlying areas is provided to the homeless persons/families. Collect calls are accepted by Help Hotline from the homeless. The project operates from December 1st through March 31st.

The initial project year kicked off December 1, 1990 and ran until March 31, 1991. Though that initial year witnessed few homeless persons contacting Help Hotline for shelter, the project continued to grow these past eighteen years. Mental health and drug and alcohol services have been added. The homeless day shelter program at the Greater Youngstown Point is a recent addition. Providing shelter to the homeless during the coldest months of the year remains the project’s goal.

Community leaders meet each year in the fall in order to discuss the coming year’s project, plan for that project year’s meeting and address possible situations that may arise from that year’s project.