Sandusky church open overnight for several days for people to escape cold

SANDUSKY — The bitter cold is focusing the minds of local officials on making sure everyone can stay warm.The city of Sandusky Thursday announced an overnight warming center has been opened, giving everyone a place to go to escape the cold.New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1920 Eddy Henry Way will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Sunday morning.City commissioner Dave Waddington, noting Cleveland has been providing "warming centers," decided Sandusky should, too.Waddington originally put an item on the city commission's Monday agenda, but he and fellow commissioner Dick Brady decided to move more quickly."Dave and I were going to push this idea on Monday at the commission table but Monday may be too late for some folks," Brady wrote in an email to the Register. "Just like hunger never takes a holiday neither does the cold."The National Weather Service area in northern Ohio that includes Sandusky had a temperature of 9 degrees Fahrenheit at 4:30 p.m., with a forecast overnight low of 2 degrees below zero. In late December, Cleveland reacted to the drop in winter temperatures by opening up four recreation centers as "warming centers," places that would stay open all night and provide an emergency place for people to come in from the cold.Waddington put an item on Monday's city commission agenda under "New Business" to consider whether Sandusky should try a similar program.Waddington said he's concerned about people forced to live in their cars or who are otherwise homeless. "I'm sure there are a lot of homeless out there, or people who had the heat shut off," he said.Meanwhile, the Community Action Commission is trying to call attention to its winter crisis program, which provides emergency help to low-income people who have had their source of heat cut off, are facing disconnection, or who need help getting connected. About 900 people a year in Erie County are helped by the program, said Tim Brown, programs coordinator for the agency.Brown said that with the recent cold snap, he's particularly interested in making sure people know about the program."We're very concerned," Brown said. "We want to make sure everyone in need of assistance applies for assistance. We are really concerned about seniors."The agency can go out and help people who are homebound and asks that neighbors check on the well being of elderly neighbors, Brown said.The agency received $870,000 of federal government funding this year for the program and could request more money if it were needed. Brown said he's confident he can help everyone who is qualified and needs help.This winter, the agency added an additional emergency heating program — fixing furnaces for people who can't afford to get them fixed. About five furnaces have been fixed so far, Brown said."We are trying to get the word out," he said.Volunteers of America operates the Crossroads homeless shelter in Sandusky.Demand for the shelter always goes up in the winter, said Stephanie Aubill, a spokeswoman for the agency.Forecast for SanduskyThe National Weather Service is predicting very cold weather to continue Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the high will rise to 27, and on Monday, the high will go above freezing, to 35. Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.The sun begins to set on another cold day in Sandusky on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2017.