Warming Center Ready For Frigid Weather In Rockland County

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The county's Department of Social Services and Catholic Charities, which operates the county's Warming Center, opened the wintertime shelter Nov. 1, so it's ready as the temperatures drop precipitously. SEE: Cold Weather Descending On Hudson Valley.

The Warming Center will operate daily through April 30, 2020. The center opens each night regardless of the temperature and it remains open during the day when the temperature, including wind chill, is 32 degrees or below.

The National Weather Service says record low temperatures are expected Tuesday night. Lows will range from the teens to lower 20s Wednesday before struggling to hit 40 on Thursday.

The center, on Sanatorium Road in Pomona, has 75 available beds and capacity for additional beds if needed.

Last operating year, from Nov. 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019, the average number of overnight guests staying at the warming center was 54, up from 41 per night the prior year. The numbers of guests varied from an average of 36 per night in November 2018 to 55 per night in April 2019. When the temperature was below 32 degrees, the daily census averaged 29 guests.

The Department of Social Services was successful in connecting 64 guests with permanent housing options over the last operating year, county officials said.