The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Sweet Home's warming shelter will be open as early as Sunday evening, Dec. 15, to provide a warm place to sleep during freezing weather this winter.

Volunteers opened a warming shelter, hosted by Fir Lawn Lutheran Church, in February just before the snow storm last winter. Organizer Janet McInerney said it consistently had about six people sleeping overnight, with a few other individuals staying a couple of nights.

"We've identified many more people than that," McInerney said. "We're hoping this year we'll have a lot more."

A number of factors determine whether homeless people use the shel...