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Battle Creek opens low‑barrier warming shelters as cold snap arrives
Summary
Mayor Mark Behnke announced overnight warming shelters at The Share Center and The Haven of Rest are available to anyone during extreme cold; the Haven’s warming shelter is "low barrier" and opens when temperatures drop "20 degrees or below."
Mayor Mark Behnke urged residents to seek shelter as dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills arrive, announcing that two local agencies are providing overnight shelter for extreme cold: The Share Center (120 Grove Street) and The Haven of Rest Ministries (11 Green Street).
Behnke said The Haven operates emergency shelters (separate facilities for men and for women and children) and a warming shelter for people who are unsheltered during extreme cold. "The warming shelter is open when temperatures drop 20 degrees or below to provide a safe, warm, and welcoming space for anyone in our community who is unsheltered during extreme cold weather," he said. He added that, with current temperatures, "the Haven shelters are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week."
The mayor emphasized the warming shelter is a "low barrier" program, explaining there is "no ID needed, paperwork, or formal check-in process required," except where there is a prior safety-related ban. He thanked the Calhoun County Response Consortium for supporting shelter operations during extreme weather.
The mayor provided contact details: The Share Center at 120 Grove Street, phone (269) 964‑8133; The Haven of Rest Ministries at 11 Green Street, phone (269) 965‑1148, and the Haven’s website, havenbc.org. Residents seeking help or wanting to partner on cold-weather response were directed to the city website for additional resources.
Behnke closed with a reminder to stay warm and to use available services during life‑threatening weather.
