Winter Homelessness: How Emergency Shelters Prepare for Winter and How You Can Help

Winter Homelessness: How Emergency Shelters Prepare for Winter and How You Can Help

Every winter, communities across the United States brace for colder temperatures, shorter days, and the difficult realities faced by people experiencing homelessness. As temperatures drop, the risks increase. Hypothermia, frostbite and chronic health complications can strike quickly, turning a cold night into a life-threatening emergency. That’s why emergency shelters spend months preparing for the winter season - strengthening services, providing additional resources and ensuring vulnerable neighbors have a safe place to stay.

Understanding how these shelters operate during the coldest months can help you better support their efforts. In this article, we’ll explore the hardships of homelessness in winter, key ways emergency shelters prepare for this season and what you can do to make a meaningful impact.

How Winter Intensifies Homelessness

Cold weather magnifies every challenge of homelessness. Staying warm becomes a full-time task. Accessing transportation, safe places to rest and reliable meals becomes more complicated. Health conditions worsen, especially for older adults and people with ongoing medical needs.

Winter homelessness is also tied to:

• Increased emergency room visits related to cold exposure

• Higher demand for shelter beds, often exceeding capacity

• Greater need for warm clothing, sleeping bags, blankets and hot meals

• Higher barriers to safety, as people may avoid walking long distances in freezing temperatures

• Seasonal shifts that worsen mental health, including increased depression and anxiety, making it harder to seek services or stay safe

For families, single adults and youth, having a warm place to stay can mean the difference between danger and stability during the holiday season.

How Emergency Shelters Prepare for Winter

Shelters know that winter will bring a surge in need, so preparations often begin long before the first snowflake falls. These widely practiced strategies help ensure that no one is left out in the cold.

Increasing Bed Capacity

One of the most urgent winter priorities is expanding shelter capacity. Some organizations:

• Convert community rooms into temporary sleeping areas

• Coordinate with local agencies to open warming centers

• Extend hours or move to 24/7 models during extreme cold

• Add more family rooms to support parents with young children

This flexibility helps shelters meet rising demand for safe, warm housing.

Stocking Winter Supplies

Staying warm requires more than a roof. Winter preparedness means stocking up on:

• Heavy coats, gloves, hats and scarves

• Thermal socks and insulated boots

• Blankets, sleeping bags and cots

• Toiletries and hygiene items

• Cold-weather medical supplies

These items are crucial for guests staying overnight and for outreach teams serving people who remain outdoors.

Strengthening Outreach Efforts

Outreach teams play a lifesaving role during winter. They connect with people living outdoors, offer supplies and encourage them to seek shelter. During the cold months, outreach workers:

• Make more frequent visits to camps or areas where people gather

• Share information about warming centers and cold-weather shelter policies

• Provide transportation to shelters when temperatures fall below freezing

• Offer crisis services, mental health support and safety checks

Their goal is to reduce exposure and ensure that individuals know help is available.

Enhancing Health and Safety Measures

Winter increases health risks, so shelters adjust their protocols to protect guests by:

• Monitoring for symptoms of hypothermia, frostbite and respiratory illness

• Providing access to warm meals and hydration

• Ensuring changes of clothing for guests who arrive wet or cold

• Offering on-site or referral-based medical care

Shelters also update emergency plans for severe storms or power outages, ensuring they can continue operating even in dangerous weather conditions.

Coordinating With Community Partners

Winter response depends on community collaboration. Shelters often work closely with:

• Churches and faith-based organizations

• Local government and public health departments

• Food banks and clothing pantries

• Volunteer groups and civic organizations

These partnerships strengthen the safety net and distribute resources where they’re needed most.

How You Can Help Your Community During Winter

Winter shelters do incredible work, but they can’t meet the growing need alone. Community members play an essential role in ensuring everyone stays warm, safe and supported.

Here’s how you can make a difference this season.

Donate Essential Winter Items

Shelters rely heavily on donations, especially when cold weather hits. High-impact items include:

• Warm coats, gloves, hats, scarves and socks

• Blankets, quilts and sleeping bags

• Hygiene kits and travel-size toiletries

• Hand warmers and thermal layers

• Nonperishable food items

New or gently used gear helps people facing winter homelessness stay warm both in shelters and out in the community.

Give Financial Support

Financial contributions help shelters prepare for unpredictable winter surges. Donations may support:

• Emergency shelter beds

• Outreach services

• Meals and food supplies

• Utility costs and heating expenses

• Case management and long-term support

Even small gifts can help a shelter reach more people during the coldest months.

Volunteer Your Time

Winter is one of the busiest seasons for shelter staff. Volunteers can assist with:

• Sorting donations

• Preparing and serving meals

• Welcoming and supporting shelter guests

• Helping with administrative tasks

• Assisting outreach teams with supply distribution

Your presence helps keep programs running smoothly and shows guests that their community cares.

Support Bethany House at Catholic Charities Terre Haute

This winter, you can help protect families and individuals who have nowhere else to turn. Bethany House, a program of Catholic Charities Terre Haute, provides emergency shelter, warm meals, case management and compassionate support for people experiencing homelessness in the Wabash Valley.

By donating funds, providing winter items, or volunteering your time, you can help Bethany House continue its mission to offer safety, dignity and hope during the coldest months. Your support ensures that no neighbor faces winter alone.

Here at Catholic Charities Terre Haute, we provide help and create hope by nourishing the minds, bodies, and spirits of children, families, adults and seniors. By collaborating with community partners, we provide nutritious food, safe shelter, quality youth programming and essential personal and household needs to our neighbors. Donate today to support meaningful community change!