Mike Wolanin | The Republic A exterior view of Brighter Days Housing in Columbus, Ind., Friday, April 14, 2023.
Officials at a local emergency housing shelter say they have seen an increase in the number of people turning to them to keep a roof over their heads as frigid temperatures sweep across the state.
Brighter Days, 421 S. Mapleton St., has been seeing about 23 to 25 people come through its doors over the past few days, up from around 17 to 19 before, said Kelly Daugherty, executive director of Love Chapel, which operates the facility.
In addition, the Community Engagement Center, 1951 McKinley Ave., extended its hours to be open this past weekend so that local homeless people could be indoors during the day, Daughterty said. The engagement center is normally closed on weekends.
The city provided bus rides for Brighter Days residents to go to the center during the day this past weekend, when the shelter is closed, and then taken them back in the evening, Daughterty said.
Officials said they expect city to continue providing the transportation service through Wednesday.
“They at least had the opportunity to be inside all day and then came back to the shelter,” Daugherty said.
Depending on the weather, it is possible that the engagement center will have extended hours again this weekend, though no decision had been made as of Monday morning.
