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Volunteers, city funding sustain Barre warming center; staff report more than 1,200 visits
Summary
The warming center at Church of the Good Shepherd, supported by $6,000 in city funding and volunteer donations, reported more than 1,200 visits and about 400 volunteer hours since opening in November; staff and volunteers described services, overnight sheltering during extreme weather and plans to continue through spring.
A volunteer-run warming center in Barre has logged more than 1,200 visits and helped residents access services, the city’s homelessness liaison and volunteers told the council on Tuesday.
Tess Taylor, Barre’s homelessness and housing liaison, said the city budgeted $6,000 to support staffing and supplies and that the center — operated from the Church of the Good Shepherd with volunteers and service partners — opened Nov. 4, 2024. “We've had over 1,200 visits to the warming center so far. Average daily count is about 10 people with as much as 18 or 19 on any given day,” she said.
Taylor said volunteers have contributed more than 400 hours and that donations of clothing, blankets and supplies have complemented the city funds. Service providers from Capstone, Washington County Mental Health, Pathways and Turning Point visited the center to meet with guests, she said.
Volunteer Ed Frey and Pastor Earl Huberkamp described how guests use the space to charge phones, rest and speak with outreach workers. Volunteers said the program also provided overnight sheltering during at least 10 extreme-weather nights this winter and that the warming center has reduced emergency calls to public safety.
Councilors praised the volunteers and asked about expanding services; volunteers and staff said plans are underway to add laundry and shower options and to continue operations beyond the formal end of the season.
No council vote was required; the warming center receives periodic briefings as an operating community service supported by the city and partner organizations.
