Winter temperatures are upon us, and "white flag" or emergency shelters are open for the homeless community and others who need a safe place to escape the cold.

Raleigh shelters open on "winter white flag" declared nights

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These shelters are open Jan. 13-16, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.:

  • Men's shelter:
    • Downtown: The Bryant Center, 401 W. Cabarrus St., Raleigh
    • North Raleigh: 5010 Second St., Raleigh
    • Women's shelter: First Baptist Church, 99 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh (enter from the Edenton Street side on Mondays and Tuesdays); Bulla Center, 301 W. Jones St., Raleigh (open Wednesdays and Thursdays)
    • Family shelter: Salvation Army, 1863 Capital Blvd., Raleigh
    • Overflow shelter: 3313 Wade Ave. (Will not be open on Saturday, Jan. 11, men's overflow shelter will be hosted by Healing Transitions Men's Campus that night)

      • Shelters always open in Raleigh

      Emergency drop-in shelters are operating every night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Call 919-759-5607.

      • Family shelter: Salvation Army, 1863 Capital Blvd.

        Learn how to volunteer or donate to shelters.

        The above shelters are open from Nov. 1 to March 31 on nights that drop below 35 degrees. People can call the shelter information phone line at 919-759-5607 or go online to see if a night is declared white flag due to the cold.

        The shelters will open to anyone who is homeless or without safe, reliable heating.

        The White Flag shelter program is funded the city of Raleigh and Wake County and is made possible by joint efforts from nonprofit, faith and business leaders.

        Durham Rescue Mission shelters

        • Men's shelter: 1201 East Main St., Durham
          • Women's shelter and mothers with children: Good Samaritan Inn, 507 East Knox St., Durham

            The Durham Rescue Mission launches “Operation Warm Shelter” for winter weather.

            Staff canvases the streets of the Triangle, offering coffee and donuts to the homeless as they warn them of the dangerous weather conditions. Then they offer free transportation to the men’s and women’s shelters. A white flag will be flying to let the homeless know that impending severe weather is forecasted and as an invitation to come in for safe shelter.

            Shelters open in Cumberland County

            WARMING CENTERS

            • Cumberland County Department of Social Services Auxiliary Lobby
              • Location: 1225 Ramsey St.
              • Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
                • Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions.
                • Cumberland County Department of Public Health First Floor Lobby
                  • Location: 1235 Ramsey St.
                • Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
                • Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and immediately following a COVID-19 infection or close contact. Citizens with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
                • Cumberland County Public Libraries
                  • Location: All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations will be open as warming centers.
                • Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Headquarters Library, Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. To find your local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov.
                • Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation - Recreation Center Lobbies
                • Hours: Recreation center hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
                • Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) Lobby
                  • Location: 505 Franklin St.
                • Hours: Operating hours for FAST are posted at fayettevillenc.gov.
                • Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center
                  • Location: 128 South King St., Fayetteville
                • Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Learn more by visiting faycares.org.

                  • WHITE FLAG SHELTERS

                  • True Vine Ministries (J Center)
                    • Location: 5315 Morganton Rd., Fayetteville
                    • Hours: 6 p.m. – 7 a.m. *Intake begins at 5:45 p.m.

                      Transportation to the J Center will be provided from the Cumberland County Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane in Fayetteville, and the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center at 128 South King St. Patrons will be picked up from the designated locations between 5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. and will be returned to those locations between 7 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Dinner and breakfast will be provided. For more information about the J Center, go to truevinenc.com.

                      • Cornerstone Christian Empowerment Center
                        • Location: 111 N. Bragg Blvd., Spring Lake
                        • Hours: 6 p.m. – 8 a.m. Intake from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

                          Transportation will be provided to and from the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center at 128 S. King St. Pick-up time is 6 p.m. and return time is 6:30 a.m. Dinner and breakfast will be provided. For more information about Cornerstone Christian Empowerment Center, call 910-494-2715 or email treyct5@gmail.com.

                          • The Salvation Army of the Sandhills Region
                            • Location: 245 Alexander St., Fayetteville
                            • Hours: 6:30 p.m. - 7 a.m. Intake from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

                              Updates will be provided on the Cumberland County website, cumberlandcountync.gov/white-flag-shelters and cumberlandcountync.gov/emergencyservices/cooling-warming-centers.