Local organizations prepare for cold weather to help residents experiencing homelessness
Northwest Arkansas nonprofits are activating winter response plans to support people experiencing homelessness as temperatures drop.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As temperatures begin to drop in Northwest Arkansas, local organizations are stepping up to help those without shelter.
Quinn Emmett, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Continuum of Care (COC) says his organization serves as a central connection point for people experiencing homelessness.
“I would identify what the particular need is, whether that’s food or housing or transportation, and then I would refer them out accordingly to the agency that can best provide that kind of assistance,” Emmett said.
He says winter weather creates additional challenges for those living without shelter.
“There is a region-wide winter weather response that we do once the temperature reaches 15 degrees in the area,” Emmett said. “We do have agencies in the area, specifically 7Hills and Salvation Army, that will take in folks that are especially vulnerable this weekend for the cold snap.”
Emmett also reminds the community that helping those in need shouldn’t be limited to cold weather.
“This problem doesn’t exist just for winter weather, and it doesn’t exist just because the COC or myself happen to get a lot of phone calls or concern at that point,” he explained. “The concern should be all of the time, because these problems are very real.”
At Genesis Church in Fayetteville, outreach director Joshua Park says they’re also partnering with organizations like 7Hills Homeless Center and the Salvation Army to collect winter supplies.
“If you live in the outdoors, in Northwest Arkansas, it’s going to get cold, it’s going to get wet, it’s going to be difficult,” Park said.
He encourages the community to donate items such as sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothes, and jackets to ensure people have access to essential resources.
“When winter comes, it becomes more of an acute conversation, more of an acute problem, where they are looking at things that go beyond uncomfortable, into dangerous, oftentimes life-threatening situations,” Park said.
Park says even small acts of kindness can make a difference.
“If you just have one coat, if you just have one meal, if you just have one anything…that’s going to help somebody to get to that next place,” Park said.