On any given night, about 200 people sleep outside in Springfield because they have nowhere else to go.
Every winter, overnight Crisis Cold Weather Shelters open in our community to provide emergency shelter beds. During the 2020-2021 winter, Crisis Cold Weather Shelter sites were open 74 nights and provided 5,907 nights of shelter to approximately 370 individuals. These shelters save lives and would not be possible without the dedication of host sites, community volunteers and partners like the City of Springfield and City Utilities.
To help meet this critical need, the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness is challenging businesses, churches, civic organization and other groups to help us provide overnight Crisis Cold Weather Shelters this winter by volunteering, donating funds, supplies and/or space.
Churches, businesses and other entities can host overnight emergency shelter beds after completing health and safety inspections with the City of Springfield. The Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness works closely with host sites to coordinate other logistics involved in hosting a shelter, including training, volunteers, transportation and supplies.
To learn more about how you or your organization or business can help, visit https://cpozarks.org/programs/crisis-cold-weather-shelters/ or contact Amanda Stadler at 417-888-2020 or astadler@cpozarks.org.