MIDLAND, Texas — The Salvation Army in Midland is opening up warming shelters as the temperature gets to or below a certain level.
“If the temperature hits 42 or below or it’s going to hit 42 or below during the night, we’ll open up additional cots because we feel that when it gets dangerous,” said Captain Robert Coriston, corps officer at the Midland Salvation Army.
The people who use the warming shelter aren’t just those without a home.
Sometimes technology just isn’t on their side.
“A lot of people in trailers, people using space heaters, sometimes their heaters just goes out and we’ll get an influx," Coriston said. "The majority are homeless, sleeping in encampments or around the neighborhood. So, it’s a good opportunity for them to come in here and see that there is a safe place and then they get to find out about our other resources. Which goes a long way as well.”
Regardless of who comes to The Salvation Army, Coriston said it’s important that these kinds of services are even present in the community because of how much relief it provides to everyone.
“Takes the burden off the city, takes the burden off the county and fellow residents," Coriston said. "When you don’t have a safe place for someone to get warm, they’re going to look for places. But when you got a safe place where they can get fed, stay warm, get showered, do laundry, I think it helps the community as a whole.”
The Odessa Salvation Army also has its warming shelter up and running if you're needing a warm place over on that side of the basin.