With the weather forecast showing temperatures dipping into the teens soon, Harrisonburg has announced a plan for its homeless residents beginning this weekend.
The city and Open Doors will open a temporary overnight emergency thermal shelter beginning on Saturday. The emergency shelter will operate from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. daily at 301 S. Main St. The building, owned by the city, was formerly occupied by the Virginia Quilt Museum. The shelter will have a capacity for 30 men and 10 women. It will be staffed by the Open Doors’ shelter support team.
The temporary shelter is necessary after delays in the construction of the city’s planned homeless services center, named the Navigation Center, that was scheduled to open in October.
While the project is behind schedule, construction is nearing completion, according to the city.
Open Doors was selected to serve as the operator of the Navigation Center earlier this year. The nonprofit will receive $100,000 annually from the city to support operation expenses as part of a three-year contract. The city will also pay for utilities and maintenance of the building and its fixtures, such as the kitchen and laundry equipment.
The center, when completed, will offer an overnight emergency shelter, a cold weather hypothermia program and a drop-in center during the day.
The city purchased the property from the Shenandoah Presbytery in June 2022. The project is supported in part by $5 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, approved by City Council in November 2021.
The Navigation Center will be located at 1111 N. Main St. in Harrisonburg. The drop-in center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The low-barrier shelter will be open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. year-round.
Questions about the temporary shelter should be directed to Nate Riddle at [email protected].
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Crystal Graham
