By Tiffany Williams –
FALL RIVER — The City of Fall River and First Step Inn are opening temporary shelters and warming centers as extreme cold grips the region. From 4 p.m. Friday, January 23, through 8 a.m. Saturday, January 31, the First Step Inn will operate an Extreme Cold Weather Temporary Shelter in its first-floor conference room at 134 Durfee Street from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. nightly.
Christ the Rock Church at 414 Rock Street will host a warming center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, and Monday, January 26, through Friday, January 30. Residents can drop in without calling.
The city urges anyone in need of emergency shelter assistance to call the FAST Response Team’s 24-hour homeless hotline at 508-676-3528. Street outreach workers will provide transportation and staff the overnight shelter along with local social service agencies and the City’s Emergency Medical Services Division.
Fall River officials thanked Scottie’s Pub, Citizens for Citizens, THRIVE, First Baptist Church, and First Step Inn for food donations, and South Coast Hospitals (Charleton site) and Brown University Health Care (Saint Anne site) for providing supplies. Permanent shelter assistance is available through First Step Inn at 508-679-8001.