Two warming centers to open when temperature falls below freezing

A Milwaukee church has raised the temperature threshold for its warming center during the winter, while another raised the threshold for December, officials announced Monday. 

Ephesians Missionary Baptist Church, 2412 N. 6th St., will open its warming center when temperatures fall below 32 degrees for people age 18 and older from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. seven days a week.

During December, St. Benedict the Moor, 924 W. State St., will accept walk-in guests age 18 and older from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. seven days a week when the temperature falls below 32 degrees.

After December, the threshold will drop to 20 degrees or below, officials said.

According to the Milwaukee Continuum of Care, other overnight warming centers include:

• Divine Intervention (Ministry to the Homeless) - Tippecanoe Church, 125 W. Saveland Avenue, Milwaukee. Serves single adults 18 and older and is open every day from Dec. 1 to March 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. No temperature threshold. Call 211 for entry.
• Repairers of the Breach, 1335 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee. Serves single adults 18 and older. Open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a day shelter, reopens for overnight shelter at 8 p.m. when the temperature is 20̊ degrees or lower. Guests must arrive no later than 10 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.
• Guest House of Milwaukee 1216 N. 13th St., Milwaukee. Serves single men 18 and older, with additional capacity added during winter. Open 24 hours, seven days a week with no temperature threshold. Call 211 for entry.
• Greater New Birth Church, 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee. Serves families and singles every day from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when the temperature is 15 degrees or lower. Walk-ins welcome. Guests must arrive no later than 10 p.m.

Daytime warming centers include:

• MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary – Hephatha Lutheran Church, 1720 W. Locust St., Milwaukee. Entrance is at 18th & Locust. Open every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Salvation Army (three locations) 1645 N. 25th St., Milwaukee, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 4129 W. Villard Ave., Milwaukee, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 2900 W. Coldspring Road, Greenfield, open 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. Call 2-1-1 for entry or walk-in.

At a news conference Monday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett urged people to refer anyone they know to the centers who needs a warm place by calling 211.

He also reminded people that anyone who needs a warm place during the winter is welcome at all Milwaukee public libraries.

Library locations:

Central Library, 814 West Wisconsin Avenue

Atkinson Library, 1960 West Atkinson Avenue

Center Street Library, 2727 West Fond du Lac Avenue

East Library, 2320 North Cramer Street

Mitchell Street Library, 906 West Historic Mitchell Street

Villard Square Library, 5190 North 35th Street

Bay View Library, 2566 South Kinnickinnic Avenue

Martin Luther King Library, 310 West Locust Street

Washington Park Library, 2121 North Sherman Blvd.

Capitol Library, 3969 North 74th Street

Mill Road Library, 6431 North 76th Street

Tippecanoe Library, 3912 S. Howell Avenue

Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Avenue

Library hours vary by location and day. People are urged to visit http://www.mpl.org or call (414) 286-3000 for more information.