BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org
PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:Indybay-18748939
SEQUENCE:18858124
CREATED:20140109T044200Z
DESCRIPTION:A group of concerned citizens calling themselves Residents for Coldest 
 Nights Warming Centers (The Warming Group), are calling on the Homeless 
 Services Center, the City and County of Santa Cruz, churches, and other 
 groups with large indoor spaces or other resources to come together to 
 continue a conversation about how to create, maintain, and publicize 
 warming centers where homeless people can get out of the elements when 
 temperatures plummet to deadly lows, or when the weather is otherwise 
 extreme. \n\nIn their meetings, they hope to bring in members of the 
 community who might have access to appropriate spaces. The next meeting is 
 on January 14th at 7 pm at 535 Spring Street. They plan to have regular 
 meetings to develop the vision. For more details visit the Facebook page at 
 facebook.com/warmingcenter Anyone with an idea to help further the vision 
 of creating warming centers is welcome.\n \n\nOur most severe cold snap 
 this past December brought sad news of several homeless individuals in San 
 Jose freezing to death. Many in Santa Cruz wondered if some of our homeless 
 would die from lack of shelter on our coldest nights.\n \n\nA recent study 
 by Applied Survey Research found that among the more than 3,500 homeless 
 individuals in Santa Cruz County, 82% of homeless residents in Santa Cruz 
 County, and 69% in the City of Santa Cruz remain unsheltered. On nights 
 when the temperature plummets to extreme lows, such a lack of shelter can 
 be deadly.\n \n\nDecember’s harshest cold spell galvanized numerous 
 blanket and coat drives, and the Homeless Services Center and various 
 churches opened all their available spaces to take in as many people as 
 possible. However, The Warming Group remains concerned that Santa Cruz City 
 and County lack sufficient (and sufficiently well-known and accessed) warm 
 spaces available to shelter the homeless, especially on nights when the 
 emergency shelter at the Armory is unavailable due to the National Guard 
 schedule.\n \n\nThe Warming Group invites folks for their “proactive 
 participation.” Jane Yett, a member of the groups says “We need to take 
 the initiative to help ensure greater safety from potentially 
 life-threatening circumstances during the cold winter months. It is our 
 hope that those with usable indoor spaces will move forward as quickly as 
 possible to provide ad-hoc warming centers that can be put in place before 
 the next cold spell. Longer term, we see the need for a more 
 comprehensively organized program that can be put in place to meet the 
 needs of those who might otherwise freeze to death.”\n\n \nThe group says 
 the steering committee of the Association of Faith Communities recently 
 voted to endorse the proposal for a warming center.\n\n \nA warming center 
 is simply a space operated with the mission of preventing loss of life due 
 to the elements. It is a physical location that provides heat and plumbing 
 on the coldest nights.\n \nYett adds, "we believe this effort draws upon a 
 broadly-shared humanitarian concern that unites our community."\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/08/18748939.php
SUMMARY:Help us Open A Warming Center in Santa Cruz: MEETING
LOCATION:535 Spring St.  Santa Cruz, CA 95060
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/08/18748939.php
DTSTART:20140115T030000Z
DTEND:20140115T043000Z
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR