With temperatures forecast to dip below freezing Thursday night, two Bloomington churches are opening their doors for people experiencing homelessness.
Reverand Sarah Lynn Gershon runs the volunteer-staffed Bloomington Severe Winter Emergency Shelters. Her own First Christian Church on 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. will offer shelter Thursday night, followed by First United Methodist Church Friday, located at 219 E. Fourth St.
“We really are trying to provide a backup on the coldest nights when people might be seeking shelter who would not other than and the other beds might be full,” Gershon said. “We’re hopeful that there'll be a solution that doesn't require us to exist forever.”
Gershon hopes to stay open Saturday through Tuesday, but that will depend on how many volunteers answer the call.
Before 9:30 p.m., half of the shelter’s 30 beds are reserved for women. After that, the rest are available for anyone.
At least 350 people in Monroe County experienced homelessness this year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
CORRECTION: The Friday shelter is First United Methodist Church, not First United Church.
