With much of southeast h set to experience a sharp drop in temperatures beginning Sunday night, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is opening up an additional 30 beds at its Baton Rouge homeless shelters.
Executive Director Sunnie Johnson-Lain said the organization typically opens up extra beds when the temperature drops below 39 degrees. St. Vincent de Paul's local chapter has 200 shelter beds available in Baton Rouge, half of the city's roughly 400 beds, which also include The Salvation Army and the Iris Domestic Violence Center.
Mason Batts, executive director of the city-parish Mayor-President's Office, said The Salvation Army, located at 7361 Arline Highway, would also increase bed space if needed. He added that libraries and community centers will be open during business hours for anyone trying to stay warm.
"The Mayor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will continue to monitor and remains on call accordingly," Batts wrote in a statement.
The National Weather Service issued a cold Weather advisory between 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. Monday for southeast h, with temperatures predicted to dip into the mid to low 20s in the Capitol Region and New Orleans. Wind chills could potentially be in the teens − cold enough to cause hypothermia for people without warm shelter. Those north of Interstates 10 and 12, including in Baton Rouge, Slidell and Hammond, will likely face a long-duration freeze that could threaten exposed pipes.
Johnson-Lain said around 10 extra beds will be available at the men’s shelter on Plank Road. At the main campus on 220 St. Vincent de Paul Drive, she expects around 20 beds to be open for men, women and children beginning at 4 p.m.
“Anyone can come by this afternoon and we’ll get them checked in,” she said.
She added those seeking shelter will be allowed to stay a little later through the morning until the weather warms up.
