Utah County will open 3 warming centers during the winter season

PROVO, Utah ( ABC4 ) — With temperatures still hovering around the 80s and leaves still green for the summer months, winter feels like a long way off. However, freezing nights and frigid weather are just around the corner.

Utah County has begun planning for the 2024-2025 Winter season by announcing three warming centers throughout Provo. Between Oct. 15, 2024, and April 30, 2025, Utah County’s unsheltered population can escape the cold weather and connect with valuable resources.

Where are the Utah County warming centers?

The warming centers will be located at:

• The Genesis Project Provo (875 South 170 East)
• The Utah County Red Building (2855 South State Street)
• Utah County Provo Seventh-day Adventist Church (255 South 700 East)

All three warming centers will be available on a rotating basis for up to 75 people per night and will open at 9 p.m. and close at 8 a.m. the next morning.

According to the Utah County Winter Response Task Force, the Genesis Project location will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays; the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be available on Thursdays; The Utah County Red Building will be available on Wednesdays and every Friday through Sunday.

Issac Paxman, Provo deputy mayor and winter response task force vice chair, said the group has a goal to find more warming centers in other churches and facilities throughout the county.

“In the end, Utah County was the one that stepped up, not just to lead the task force, but to provide a facility on county land outside of our city,” said Paxman. “We greatly appreciate it. [Utah County] Commissioner [Brandon] Gordon has been a champion in all of this.”

What resources are available at the warming centers?

Aside from keeping Utah County’s unsheltered population warm during the cold winter months, there will be several resources from local organizations to connect with. For example, while meals won’t be available at the warming centers, participants will be connected to other local entities where warm meals can be provided.

Commissioner Gordon said there has been a robust ecosystem of service providers that have been in Utah County since the late ’60s. He said these organizations have been helping people climb out of homelessness for decades and the warming centers are just the latest addition to that ecosystem.

The ecosystem of services that will be available to connect with at the warming centers include, but aren’t limited to:

• Temporary and permanent housing
• Rent and hotel vouchers
• Other emergency shelter options
• Detoxification services
• Job training
• Dental and medical care

Warming center participants will also be offered UTA passes to help them travel between the different centers as well as the different community services providing resources in the area.

“We’ve worked harmoniously to get this done,” said Karen McCandless, Community Action CEO and Task Force member. “It’s not that we all see every issue exactly the same; it’s that we respect each other and share a strong desire to serve the common good and to serve those experiencing homelessness.”

How do people stay up-to-date with the latest on the warming centers?

Anyone looking for more or the latest information on the warming centers is invited to call or visit 211 . The Utah County Winter Response Task Force said that 211 is a comprehensive one-stop phone number, website, and app hosted by United Way of Utah County. 211 will have information about warming centers as well as opportunities to volunteer at them.

Updated information, such as verifying which warming centers are active each night, can also be found by calling 801-441-1993.

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