Lansing to open overnight family warming center

LANSING — The city is opening a new overnight family warming center this winter.

Nov. 27 is the anticipated opening date for the Letts Family Warming Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo St. Hours will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week.

The center will remain open through April 30 and promises to be the first of its kind for Lansing families, according to the city's Friday statement announcing the opening.

There is a gap between the number of unsheltered families and the number of shelters, said Kimberly Coleman, director of Human Relations and Community Services Department, in an email.

"It is our hope to fill that gap by providing a safety net for these families," she said.

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will operate and manage the nighttime warming center, which will be funded through an $800,000 allocation in the state budget for the city to establish such a shelter, according to the city.

The organization won a bid for proposals and operates several shelters, warming centers and facilities in Michigan.

"Keeping families together and sheltered during the cold winter months has to be a priority for Lansing," said Coleman in the city's statement. "We have had conversations with the school district and know that there is an incredible need out there right now.

"Our intent is to use the lessons learned this year to better serve our community in the future.”

The shelter will have a capacity of 75, she said, but during severe cold weather emergencies, deemed "Code Blue" by the city, the shelter's capacity will be increased so it can accept seniors and individuals with disabilities.

During extremely cold times, there can be dozens of warming centers available in the Greater Lansing area, with libraries and churches and malls being among the places welcoming people to warm up.

“One gap that we have found here is shelters for families with children that are frequently at capacity," Mayor Andy Schor said. “According to our other shelter partners and city agencies, the greatest needs are in and near downtown, so starting the program at the Letts Center location made the most sense for right now."

Mike Karl, an advocate for unhoused people, said the new warming center is a good step, but he would have preferred if the city had purchased a building, like an abandoned school, and set up a more full-service shelter.

"What we should be doing is not investing in a management company but investing in a building," Karl said. "I think we can save money and do better. I think it's great that we'll have a place open, but we need supportive services that are shelter-offered and not just a warming center."

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing to open overnight family warming center this winter