LOWELL — When temperatures begin to plummet across the city this winter, the City Council wants to be prepared with a plan to keep people in need safe. The agency will review and consider implementing a warming center protocol in your tuesday night meeting at City Hall.

The policy is the result of months of discussion and several motions by councilors to keep at-risk populations, such as the homeless, safe.

“In the event of a weather emergency, the Lowell Senior Center located at 276 Broadway Street will be used to provide a temporary safe space for individuals and/or families according to the Director of Emergency Management,” the document dated Oct. 25 said. .

The warming station will be staffed by Lowell Police and Fire, a custodian and, as needed, a public health nurse and emergency medical services personnel.

The warming center will be implemented when the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning and will be initiated under the direction of the City Manager’s office, the Department of Health, the Senior Center, the LPD and the LFD to “ confirm the opening and hours of the heating-cooling station. These individuals will continue to meet during the event as needed and will determine when the station will close.”

The main discussion for planning the protocol took place in the August 27 meeting of the council after the body received a request signed by dozens of residents asking the “city to provide shelter to people who need it when the weather is too hot or too cold for their safety.”

The petition was organized by several advocacy groups that have been active on housing and homelessness issues, including Solidarity Lowell, Merrimack Valley Project and Lifting Lowellians: Assistance and Mutual Aid.

Several members of those organizations addressed the council.

“The least we can do is protect people from extreme and dangerous weather conditions,” said Ryan Oates, a member of Solidarity Lowell. “Expanding our cooling and warming centers is a small but significant first step.”

Several speakers expressed concern about the impact of the closure of the Life Connection Center on the homeless community. When the nonprofit on Appleton Street closed in May 2023, the community lost an important walk-in center that stayed open until nearly midnight, in addition to providing health facilities and feeding programs, a factor that Councilman Wayne Jenness he noted in his comments.

“There will be cold nights and there will be fewer places for people to escape the cold, like at Life Connection,” he said.

Their floor motion in response to the citizen petition asked City Manager Tom Golden to come up with a plan specifically for this winter.

“We need options and put price tags on them and make it understandable for everyone to know exactly what we’re looking at and what it’s going to cost the city,” Jenness said.

To date, the city has spent approximately $10 million on supports and services for Lowell’s homeless population over the past several years, using a combination of the American Rescue Plan Act, Community Development Block GrantsHOME Investment Partnership Program and Emergency Solutions Grant Funding.

ARPA was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021. Lowell received an allocation of $75.9 million to assist with the ongoing pandemic recovery effort. Golden said services provided to the homeless population with the city’s funding streams were not only not being matched by other cities and towns around Lowell, but those neighboring towns were also taking advantage of Lowell’s important outreach to people. homeless.

“When we open warming centers at the Senior Center, other cities drop people off,” Golden said. “We’re spending the money trying to achieve this goal… but I don’t see other cities doing anything other than dropping people off at our door. In the list of things we support, I see that the city of Lowell does them; “I don’t see anyone else doing it.”

Council members John Descoteaux, Rita Mercier and Erik Gitschier spoke on the topic that the city needs more state and federal support to address the growing homeless crisis.

“When this ARPA money runs out, we will all be in for a shock,” Gitschier said. “We can’t give the money we gave.”

His motion for Golden to send the citizen petition to U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and the state delegation asking for resources to help with the costs of homeless services and supports passed unanimously by roll call vote.

“This is a state of emergency for homeless people,” Mercier said. “That’s what we have here in this city.”

The City Council meets in the second floor chambers of City Hall, 375 Merrimack St. on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm To speak at a meeting, contact City Clerk Michael Geary before 4 pm on the day of the meeting at 978-674-4161 or [email protected].

Originally Posted: November 5, 2024 at 4:33 am EST