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Pontiac expands warming‑center hours at Bowen Senior Center; New Birth International Church and volunteers add overnight help
Summary
City and community groups extended hours at Bowen Senior Center to 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily in January and New Birth International Church offered late‑night warming options; council members and volunteers coordinated shifts to staff the sites.
Pontiac announced expanded winter emergency hours for the Bowen Senior Center and described community‑led late‑night warming options after council advocacy and public comment.
What was announced: The Bowen Senior Center at 52 Bagley Street will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the month of January to provide a warming place during extreme cold. The administration said that expansion was made in response to council advocacy and public concern about people experiencing homelessness during freezing weather.
Community response and volunteer role: Bishop Theresa Lee of New Birth International Church told the council in public comment that the church had opened space to accommodate people in need and was providing beds, bedding and food. “We have a space there that New Birth… accommodating about, I believe, 15 people,” Bishop Lee said. Council members described a volunteer sign‑up to staff an additional late‑night warming option organized in cooperation with New Birth; councilwoman Melody Rutherford described four‑hour volunteer shifts and requested more volunteers to cover hours: “We have 4 hour increments where we need volunteers… we need some men to come in from 12 to 4,” Rutherford said.
Why it matters: The shift in city hours is an immediate, operational step intended to expand options beyond existing shelters; council members framed the step as an interim measure while longer‑term shelter and housing strategies are pursued. Volunteers and churches are supplementing capacity for overnight coverage during cold weather.
Practical details given at the meeting: Bowen Senior Center hours — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for January, including the federal holiday; New Birth International Church is providing overnight space in the near term and has started delivering beddings and food. Volunteer shifts are organized in four‑hour blocks; council members asked residents to donate food, bedding and snow‑shoveling help for parking lots.
Ending: Council members encouraged residents to contact New Birth International Church and the city if they want to volunteer; they also said the city communications office will publish information about the temporary warming sites and Bowen’s extended hours.
