Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry may offer respite to more than 20 guests at their cold weather shelters if the host church meets certain square footage requirements.
Waynesboro City Council voted 5-0 Monday night to approve changes for the cold weather shelter offered from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. seven days a week from Thanksgiving to Easter. The shelter rotates between locations in Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.
Waynesboro Director of Community Development Leslie Tate presented information to amend the operational guidelines for WARM.
The amendments were aimed to increase the number of overnight guests that are permitted at a given host facility, Tate said.
The previous guidelines capped the number of overnight guests at a facility to 20. An overflow site is often required in Waynesboro when there are more than 20 requests for shelter.
Four churches currently host the shelter in Waynesboro.
“We evaluated all these existing facility square footages,” Tate said, “to look at accommodating such request and what would fit within the safety guidelines that were established and also maybe provide a bit of flexibility.”
The new tiers adopted by Waynesboro City Council
- For less than 1,600 square feet, 20 overnight guests allowed (2 volunteers required)
- For 1,600 square feet to 2,199 square feet, 25 overnight guests allowed (3 volunteers required)
- For 2,200 square feet or more, 30 overnight guests allowed (3 volunteers required)
Related stories
Exhibit at Waynesboro Public Library highlights how homelessness ‘could be any of us’
Published date: November 2, 2023 | 3:41 pm
Waynesboro: WARM permit will allow for additional mother, children in supportive housing
Published date: October 27, 2023 | 4:09 pm
Waynesboro: Rising temperatures don’t meet ‘criteria for a cooling center’
Published date: September 5, 2023 | 3:32 pm
Zoning compliance for Waynesboro B Street homeless encampment ‘will take time’
Published date: April 20, 2023 | 6:23 pm
WARM concludes Cold Weather Shelter season for homeless in Waynesboro
Published date: April 10, 2023 | 1:49 pm
Homeless encampment on B Street in Waynesboro remains open – for now
Published date: March 13, 2023 | 3:23 pm
Time’s up: Ten days pass, homeless remain at B Street encampment in Waynesboro
Published date: March 7, 2023 | 5:23 pm
Waynesboro had a day shelter for the homeless; it was shut down due to zoning
Published date: February 27, 2023 | 1:39 pm
Recent HUD funds won’t address homeless, affordable housing in Waynesboro
Published date: February 24, 2023 | 3:15 pm
Waynesboro City Council to discuss homelessness at Feb. 24 retreat
Published date: February 20, 2023 | 12:00 pm
Local ministry on the ground helping Waynesboro’s homeless survive, thrive
Published date: February 16, 2023 | 3:03 pm
City government needs to lead effort to address homelessness in Waynesboro
Published date: February 15, 2023 | 12:44 pm
Citizens urge Waynesboro to take the lead on homelessness, affordable housing
Published date: February 14, 2023 | 4:03 pm
Ending homelessness: What can Waynesboro do to prevent the next Tent City?
Published date: February 8, 2023 | 3:19 pm
Homeless population packing up, moving out of Tent City in Waynesboro
Published date: February 7, 2023 | 6:30 pm
Waynesboro homeowner says B Street homeless encampment ‘not safe’
Published date: February 3, 2023 | 3:58 pm
Tent City is not the solution: But Waynesboro doesn’t seem to care about its homeless
Published date: February 2, 2023 | 10:27 am
Evicted: Waynesboro’s homeless population served trespassing orders for Tent City
Published date: February 1, 2023 | 11:42 am
City Council eases restrictions on cold weather shelters in Waynesboro
Published date: January 12, 2023 | 1:24 pm
Share
Crystal Graham
