Plan Announced for Rochester Warming Center Overflow

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- There’s now a plan in place to help more homeless Rochester residents avoid cold nights this winter. 

Get our free mobile app

The Rochester Community Warming center provides an overnight refuge for unsheltered residents to get out of the cold, however it has to turn away people nightly due to it reaching its capacity. 

On Friday, the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities Rochester Community Warming Center announced a plan to provide more overnight shelter space for homeless residents. 

Starting December 1, the Warming Center staff will use a Salvation Army vehicle to transport the overflow, which will be counted after 10 p.m., to the Salvation Army’s Social Services Center at 115 1st Ave. Northeast in downtown Rochester. 

Rebecca Snapp, Director of Community Engagement for the Salvation Army Rochester says the social services center will have a staffing capacity to allow for up to 25 extra beds. 

“There’s currently a great need for emergency, overnight shelter in our community,” said Major Candace Voeller, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army and Rudy Naul, Catholic Charities’ Director of Housing, Olmsted County, in a joint statement, “Especially with winter weather intensifying, it’s incredibly important that we work to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community have a safe place to stay overnight.”  

The overflow plan will be in place until March 1, 2024.