Nassau County Opening WARMBED Program for Homeless Residents Next Week

With cold weather on the way, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced that WARMBED, the county's Emergency Shelter Relief Program for homeless individuals and families during the winter months, will be activated Wednesday, Nov. 23.

“No resident should have to spend nights in the freezing cold when they can call the Nassau County Hotline and be placed in a warm shelter right away,” said Mangano. “Homeless residents calling the hotline will be connected immediately to a person who can help them get out of the cold and obtain the services they need to restart their lives. Help is really just a phone call away.”

WARMBED, will operate seven days a week and run through March 31. If winter conditions persist beyond then, the program will continue until warmer weather arrives.

Between the hours of 4:45 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 4:45 p.m. thru Monday at 8 a.m., employees from WARMBED and the Department of Social Services (DSS) will make appropriate referrals and provide shelter placement. Once placed, the staff at DSS and the Office of Housing and Community Development will contact those who are homeless in order to access resources for permanent housing. Mangano also urges Nassau’s homeless veterans to take advantage of the WARMBED program, where they will be assisted by the Nassau County Veterans Services Agency.

During the 2015-16 season, 287 individuals were housed by the WARMBED program. These referrals included 219 adults and 68 children.

To reach the hotline, dial 1-866-WARMBED (866-927-6233). In an emergency, you can also call:

• Department of Social Services (516) 227-8519: After office hours (516) 573-8626
• Long Island Crisis Center (516) 679-1111
• The Safe Center L.I. (516) 542-0404
• Nassau University Medical Center (516) 572-0123