LAFAYETTE WARMING SHELTER TO OPEN IN ADVANCE OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES

Lafayette, LA - In response to forecasted freezing temperatures, Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), in coordination with the Lafayette Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) and community partners, will open a warming shelter at the Dupuis Recreation Center beginning Saturday, January 24, at 6:00 p.m.

The warming shelter will remain open through Tuesday, January 27, at 10:00 a.m., providing overnight refuge for individuals experiencing homelessness or those without adequate heat as freezing conditions impact Lafayette Parish.

Transportation Assistance

Transportation to the warming shelter will be available Saturday, January 24, through the Lafayette Transit System (LTS). Individuals seeking shelter may present at:

• 401 St. John Street (near St. Joseph's Diner), or
• Any active bus stop along an LTS route
  

All LTS fees will be waived for individuals seeking transportation to the warming shelter. Anyone needing additional transportation assistance is encouraged to call 211.

Donation Information

To help ensure warming shelter operations remain focused on guest safety and care, all donations should be directed to ARCH ShareHouse, located at 211-A Guilbeau Road, today and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Items most needed at this time include:

• New or gently used towels
• New, travel-size hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap/shower gel, deodorant)
• New, packaged underwear in various sizes
• New or gently used pillows
  

Facility & Programming Impacts

To accommodate warming shelter operations, basketball games previously scheduled at the Dupuis Recreation Center on Saturday have been relocated to the Martin Luther King Recreation Center located at 309 Cora Street. All additional programming at the Dupuis Recreation Center has also been cancelled. LCG appreciates the public's understanding as the facility is temporarily repurposed to support community safety during this cold weather event.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions during freezing conditions and to check on vulnerable neighbors. Updates related to warming shelter operations and severe weather response will continue to be shared through official LCG communication channels.

For real-time alerts and emergency updates, residents may subscribe to LafayetteNOW notifications at https://www.lafayettela.gov/alert or by texting "Join LFTalert" to 31002.

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