Pop-up shelters around South Louisville helping people survive severe winter weather – WDRB

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Some churches and nonprofits in south Louisville have opened pop-up white flag shelters as severe winter weather hits the area.

Temperatures are expected to range from single digits to the teens from Monday through Wednesday, and wind chills are expected to get below zero. People are able to go to white flag shelters to escape the chilling cold. 

It’s a collaborative effort for the local nonprofits.

“There’s so many people right now coming together to take care of people,” said Shane Schlatter, executive director of Exodus Family Ministries.

Exodus Family Ministries supplies a food pantry and clothing closet to people in south Louisville. In October, they also launched their new resource center, which connects people to services such as resume assistance and identification documentation.

“It’s always important, it’s always valuable. It’s always something that they look forward to,” Schlatter said. “Meeting the basic needs important to get them here. But then while they’re here, we build the relationships and once you learn who they are and what they’re faced with, once those barriers become evident, then you can try to meet them and try to get them the help they need to get where they need to be.”

This weekend, the nonprofit temporarily expanded their services to those in Louisville’s homeless community.

“They’ve been wanting something like this in the south and for a long time, but during this cold weather, it’s literally life or death,” Schlatter said.

Exodus Family Ministries, located at 4205 Cane Run Road, is offering food, showers and laundry, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week. 

“Which is a really big deal when people are getting wet and they’re getting cold and rained on, snowed on, and then we’ve got clothes that were given away also,” said Schlatter.

Voice of Truth Church is also operating a dayside pop-up shelter from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 5507 Valley Station Road.

Together, Exodus Family Ministries and Voice of Truth Church are partnering with Hope International AOH Church of God, which is also providing an overnight pop-up white flag shelter space, located at 2330 Algonquin Parkway. It’s one this week from 4 to 7 p.m.

“There is a need,” said Amanda Mills, founder of Southend Street Angels. “The need is actually greater now than it’s ever been.”

Between the three shelters, volunteers are picking up those in need and taking them to dayside and overnight shelters for free.

“This has been lifesaving,” Mills said.

Mills coordinates the donations and living quarters at the overnight shelter.

“We ask them what they need rather than telling them what they need,” Mills said. “And then we just respect them as adults. And so that allows them to come in. Whereas some of these individuals here would normally go to one of our traditional shelters here in our city.”

Schlatter said most of the people they pick up are not dressed for this week’s weather.

“They were in a light jacket, they were literally freezing cold,” Schlatter said. “Whenever we picked them up, they were hungry, they were tired, exhausted, upset. I think when you’re out in this weather and you don’t have anywhere to go, it’s hopeless.”

Mills and Schlatter said the city needs more churches and nonprofits helping in the future.

“It’s growing and I’d say the rest of the week, we’ll have more,” Schlatter said.

All three pop-up shelters will be open until Friday.

There are also eight locations throughout Louisville that’ll be serving as Warming Centers for those needing to get out of the cold. To find your nearest location, click here.

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