Houston opens 12 warming centers amid cold front

The 12 overnight warming centers that will open are:

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center: 6719 W. Montgomery Road
• Northeast Multi-Service Center: 9720 Spaulding St.
• Kashmere Multi-Service Center: 4802 Lockwood Drive
• Moody Community Center: 3725 Fulton St.
• Fonde Community Center: 110 Sabine St.
• Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center: 6402 Market St.
• Magnolia Multi-Service Center: 7037 Capitol St.
• Metropolitan Multi-Service Center: 1475 W. Gray St.
• Southwest Multi-Service Center: 6400 High Star Drive
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center: 4410 Reed Road
• Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center: 4014 Market St.
• Third Ward Multi-Service Center: 3611 Ennis St.

Whitmire said mental health caseworkers will also be stationed at the Fonde and Metropolitan warming centers to help ease anxieties. The Northeast warming center will be primarily designated for families, he said. Individuals who arrive with items will be allowed to keep their items with them while they are at the warming centers.

“Having visited these warming centers in recent times, certainly during the snowstorm, I noticed the anxiety and the emotional challenge for so many of our homeless,” Whitmire said.

What else?

Commissioner Lesley Briones announced Feb. 19 that the Bayland Community Center on 6400 Bissonnet St. will open a 24-hour shelter starting Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. through Feb. 21. Residents are welcome to bring crated pets to the center, according to the news release.