As temperatures begin to drop, the Little Rock Compassion Center is seeing an influx of people seeking warmth and shelter. On Sunday, Michael McLaurie was among the hundreds of individuals who found refuge there.
The center offers essentials like warmers, hats, gloves, and clothing to help those in need.
William Holloway, the pastor and founder of the homeless shelter, has been offering a safe space for years, but he stresses that this service becomes especially vital during the winter months. He explained that in freezing weather, people are at risk of hypothermia, with extremities like feet and fingers especially vulnerable to frostbite if they aren’t sheltered from the cold.
In response to the pressing needs of the season, the Compassion Center relaxes some of its usual policies. Normally, the shelter enforces a 30-day stay limit, but during winter, they prioritize survival over rules. Holloway explained that during this time, they allow people to stay for as long as they need, ensuring everyone has a safe place to stay during the coldest months.
For Ricky Lee Teage, having access to the shelter is a matter of life and death. He emphasized that in Little Rock’s frigid winter weather, anyone caught outside without shelter could be in serious danger, particularly with temperatures expected to drop overnight.
The shelter operates with a strict cutoff at 10 p.m. each night, allowing people to stay as long as the temperature remains below 49 degrees.
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