Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-20s overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday. And it will feel much colder than that thanks to a frigid wind chill.

These temperatures are highlighting a need at local shelters as they work to accommodate as many individuals as they can during the cold.

When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, the shelters operated locally by the Inter-Faith Council can expand to bring in 20 more people out of the cold.

Cots set up for extra beds on cold nights at IFC shelter. Photo via Chris Horton.

“There aren’t extra beds for people when it gets cold,” IFC shelters residential services director Stephani Kilpatrick said on Tuesday. “So what we do is we provide those extra beds in the form of cots when the weather is below 40 degrees. So we just set up extra cots in whatever space we can find and allow people to come in just for the night.”

But that also expands the need of the IFC.

“Towels, wash cloths, twin sheets, pillow cases, actual pillows and then some things like bar soap,” Kilpatrick said when listing items the shelters would be in need of as winter is not officially here and there have been several nights with temperatures below 40 degrees.

Kilpatrick asked that anyone help in any way they can during these cold temperatures.

“We’re a community agency, and everybody’s a part of it,” Kilpatrick said. “So there’s always some way form someone to help out in whatever way works for them.”

The IFC operates the Community House men’s shelter on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Chapel Hill. To access those services during the cold weather, individuals in need must meet at the Community Kitchen at 100 West Rosemary Street by 6 p.m. for transportation to the shelter.

HomeStart is a residential facility for homeless families and single women and individuals can access those services on Homestead Road by whatever means of transportation are available.

Anyone with questions regarding the IFC services or who would like to contribute donations can call the main office at (919) 929-6380. Financial donations can also be made online.

Related Stories
‹
Public Meeting Scheduled Ahead of Underground Blasting for Rogers Road Sewer Project
A public meeting is set for Tuesday after officials from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County and Orange Water and Sewer Authority have decided to move forward with “low-intensity underground blasting” to remove rock as part of the Rogers Road Area Sewer Project. After decades of promises to extend the sewer lines to the historically black […]
Consultant Reviewing OWASA Response to Water Main Break
Orange Water and Sewer Authority officials are working to find out what happened earlier this week to cause a major water main break. The issue occurred early Monday morning and disrupted water availability across southern Orange County through Tuesday afternoon. “With so much water being lost, it made it impossible to safely access the valves […]
OWASA Lifts Boil Water Adivsory
OWASA officials said just before 4:30 p.m. that the boil water advisory for the area had been lifted. There are 75 customers who have been directly contacted, according to the utility, who will have to continue under a boil water advisory, but the rest of the service area is working at a normal capacity.**** […]
Some Improvements at OWASA Water Main Break, But UNC to Remain Closed Tuesday
OWASA officials said just after 7:30 p.m. Monday that the leak had been stopped and that water storage was approaching normal levels. Officials are continuing to urge residents to use water wisely. Toilets can be flushed. Customers are asked to take short showers.**** Orange Water and Sewer Authority reported seeing some improvements Monday evening […]
Hillsborough Supplying Water to Customers Impacted by OWASA Outage
Hillsborough has begun supplying water to the southern portion of the county serviced by Orange Water and Sewer Authority. OWASA suffered a significant water main break early Monday morning. The utility then asked customers to limit water use to essential purposes and then issued a boil water advisory. Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools and […]
Orange County Preparing for Election Day Amid OWASA Complications
Orange County elections officials say the county will be ready to go for Election Day regardless of issues caused by a water main break at the Orange Water and Sewer Authority facility in Carrboro. The water main break has caused closures across southern Orange County, including Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools and UNC – […]
9/17/18: Orange County Flooding in Pictures
Overnight rains from Hurricane Florence brought flooding to Chapel Hill and other parts of Orange County. Roads were closed and residents of some apartment complexes were forced to evacuate. The 97.9 The Hill WCHL crew took some photographs of flooding in the local area during Monday’s rainstorm. Photos by: Kenny Dike/WCHL Nicki Morse/WCHL Loren Hintz
OWASA: Tap Water Safe if Hurricane Florence Causes Power Outage
Residents across central North Carolina have been searching for bottled water and other provisions ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Florence later this week. Orange Water and Sewer Authority said on Tuesday evening that tap water will remain safe to drink, even if the power is knocked out during the storm. OWASA is the […]
I-85 Reopened in Orange County
All northbound lanes of I-85 are now open.**** I-85 northbound is closed Thursday after a wreck during the aftermath of a major winter storm. The interstate is closed just past the NC-86 exit near mile mark 168. One lane was reopened for a short time Thursday morning before the road was closed once again. […]
IFC Shelters Preparing Extra Space for Cold Nights
Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-20s overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday. And it will feel much colder than that thanks to a frigid wind chill. These temperatures are highlighting a need at local shelters as they work to accommodate as many individuals as they can during the cold. When the temperature drops below […]
›