RHI finds cold weather shelter help
♦ Homeless organization partnering with Abundant Life Community Center for shelter when temperatures dip down below freezing
When the weather turns too cold for people to be outside overnight, they now have a new place to go in Rockmart if they are homeless and without a heat source.
The Rockmart Homeless Initiative asked the city for clarification on the use of the Hogue Avenue gym for when nights get extremely cold – under 25 degrees – for the winter of 2018-19.
With the city changing their policy about the gym use, the RHI has instead begun a partnership with Abundant Life Community Center, which is located at 209 Litchfield Street in Rockmart.
They’ll only be offering a place to stay indoors during extreme cold weather events.
RHI board member Victoria Millhollan reported that the organization has moved on from using the Hogue Avenue gym to the community center.
“We’re so thankful they’ve opened their doors,” she said.
They needed the shelter earlier in the month to keep people out of the cold from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., but exact times of how it will work out is still to be determined.
Millhollan said the cold weather shelter at Abundant Life will be available for people when temperatures dip below 28 degrees.
The RHI resource center on South Marble Street in downtown Rockmart remains open on Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
RHI offers a variety of help to the homeless in the area, from offering up a daytime meal or place to rest indoors during their hours of operation, to helping people get state-issued identification to help them in the process of transitioning back into a permanent living situation and work.
Find out more ways to help by searching on Facebook for Rockmart Homeless Initiative, or calling 678-685-6385.