Extreme Cold & Community Safety Planning

Periods of extreme cold bring urgency and concern across our community. When temperatures drop, many organizations, faith communities, volunteers, and neighbors begin asking the same question: How can we help keep people safe?

Keeping people safe during extreme weather requires coordination, preparation, and a clear understanding of what different people need.

From years of experience coordinating homelessness response during winter weather, our partners know that emergency shelter and warming efforts are most effective when they are connected to the broader system of care. When temporary warming spaces are created without coordination, unintended risks can arise for the very people we are trying to protect.

This post is intended to support organizations considering opening a temporary warming space and to invite deeper collaboration, so our community is better prepared for extreme cold now and in the future.

Why Coordination Matters During Extreme Cold

When warming spaces open without coordination, challenges can include:

• People traveling to a location they were told would be open, only to find it closed

• Individuals being pulled away from shelter locations that are already open and staffed

• Limited ability to respond when someone presents with higher medical, behavioral health, or safety acuity

• Confusion about where people go when a temporary space closes

These outcomes are rarely intentional. They occur when information is inconsistent or when a space is not equipped to meet the range of needs that may present during extreme weather.

Determining Capacity Before Opening a Warming Space

Before opening a temporary warming space, organizations should take time to assess capacity and readiness.

• Staffing and Supervision

  • Do you have enough trained staff or volunteers to remain open for the full hours being advertised?

  • Is someone always present who can make decisions, de-escalate conflict, and respond to emergencies?

• Acuity and Safety

  • Are you prepared if someone arrives with higher medical, behavioral health, or safety needs?

  • Is there a clear plan for connecting people to a higher level of care when needed?

• Space, Accessibility, and Duration

  • Is the space appropriate for extended stays during extreme cold?

  • Are accessibility, bathrooms, and basic safety needs addressed?

  • Is it clear when the space opens and closes, and where people are expected to go next?

Supporting Different Needs and Populations

People seeking warmth during extreme cold have a wide range of needs and circumstances. Warming spaces are safest when they are clear about what they can and cannot support.

• Substance Use and Low-Barrier Considerations

  • Some spaces operate as low-barrier environments, while others are not designed or staffed to do so. Organizations should be clear about:

    • Whether substance use can be safely accommodated

    • How staff or volunteers respond to intoxication or withdrawal

    • What behaviors the space can support

  • Clarity helps prevent people from being turned away unexpectedly or placed in unsafe situations.

• Families, Youth, and Caregivers

  • Some individuals may arrive with children or youth. Organizations should consider:

    • Whether the space is appropriate for families

    • Whether staff are prepared to support minors safely

    • How families are referred if the space cannot meet their needs

• Legal Restrictions and Special Circumstances

  • Some individuals experiencing homelessness are subject to legal restrictions, including those related to sex offenses or proximity to certain facilities. Others may have mobility limitations, medical conditions, or disabilities that require additional support.

  • No single space can meet every need. Safety comes from matching people to environments that align with their level of acuity, while maintaining dignity and respect.

Food and Meal Planning

Providing food can be an important part of helping people stay safe during extreme cold. It also introduces additional considerations that should be planned for ahead of time.

Organizations should consider:

• Whether food will be provided, and if so, how it will be prepared and served

• Food safety, storage, and sanitation requirements

• Staffing capacity to provide food consistently

• How food availability may affect length of stay and expectations

In some cases, coordinating with existing meal providers may be safer and more sustainable than serving food on-site.

Zoning, Use, and Location Restrictions

Not all buildings are legally or practically suited to operate as warming spaces. Zoning, occupancy limits, licensing requirements, and use restrictions can affect whether a space can safely serve the public.

Before opening, organizations should consider:

• Whether the building is zoned or permitted for public assembly or emergency use

• Occupancy limits and fire code requirements

• Location-based restrictions that may affect who can access the space

• Insurance or liability considerations related to public use

Identifying these factors early helps prevent unsafe or unsustainable situations.

How Coordination Helps

Coordination supports both people seeking warmth and the organizations serving them. Staying connected allows communities to:

• Share consistent, accurate information about where to go

• Direct people to environments appropriate for their needs

• Support staff and volunteers with shared planning and backup options

• Reduce confusion, duplication, and gaps in care

Coordination strengthens safety without reducing autonomy.

Looking Ahead: Planning for Winter Safety

Extreme cold is predictable, even if specific weather events are not. Communities are safest when winter response is planned collaboratively rather than built in crisis.

Looking ahead, organizations can strengthen winter safety by:

• Clarifying roles and expectations before emergencies arise

• Building partnerships that support coordinated response

• Identifying training or resources needed to increase readiness

• Aligning temporary efforts with year-round systems of care

Stay Connected with the Coalition

If your organization is considering opening a warming space now, or would like to be part of coordinated winter planning in the future, we invite you to connect with the Coalition.

Contact our Executive Director, Chandler Esslinger, at chandler@fmhomeless.org or by phone at 701-936-7171

Our role is to support coordination, share information, and help ensure care translates into safety.

Thank you to everyone who is finding ways to keep people safe during this extreme cold.