Interfaith Action of Evanston, which has operated an emergency shelter program at local churches on especially cold nights, this year will have a shelter open each night through February.
In an announcement on the group’s website, organizers said the expanded service would be provided at:
- First Congregational Church, 1445 Hinman Ave., through Jan. 12.
- Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge Ave., Jan 13 through Jan. 26.
- First Presbyterian Church, 1427 Chicago Ave., Jan. 27 through Feb. 9.
- Beth Emet, 1224 Dempster St., Feb. 10 through Feb. 23.
Other churches participating in the shelter program ar St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and First United Methodist Church.
The overnight shelter program started at St. Paul’s and initially opened only when temperatures fell to zero degrees or below.
But the organization gradually expanded the service to other churches and raised the temperature at which the shelter would open.
With increasing funds and staffing, this is the first year the shelter has been able to open every night through the coldest months of the year.
On average about 28 people make use of the shelter on a given night. The shelter doors open at 9 p.m. and lock at 10 p.m. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. the next morning.
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