The Utah County Winter Response Task Force has launched its 2024-2025 Winter Response plan, with warming centers and essential services for our unsheltered community.
This plan includes accommodations at Genesis Project Provo, Provo Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Utah County Red Building, and hotels across Utah County, offering warmth and care through the winter months. Services include food, counseling, housing support, and UTA day passes to help meet vital needs.
Fred Sheehan, a former member of the homeless community and now a dedicated team member at Wasatch Behavioral Health, shared, “I was at the warming centers last year. I know most of the homeless in the county because that’s what I do, street outreach. But if there was someone at the warming centers that I hadn’t met, I could be like, hey, I’m Fred, and just start talking. I can tell them, hey, it wasn’t that long ago I was homeless right here too. I know what it’s like for them. But I can tell them that Utah County has great services. Once I got connected with them, things got better and better. I got housing. I got help.”
“And now it’s my job to help others get the exact same kind of help. Last year, a couple of the people I met at the warming centers actually decided to get help, and right now they’re housed. They went through the steps. It’s incredible. But that’s what this is all about. Helping people lift themselves out of homelessness—with our help, when they are ready.”
Beginning October 15th, warming centers for individuals who are homeless and seeking warmth and a place to stay for the night will be open nightly from 9pm to 8am through April 30, 2025, and will be in Provo and incorporated Utah County.
Volunteer:
Volunteers (18 years and older) are needed to help at the warming centers during the evening, late night, and early morning. Those serving will be assisting experienced staff with set up, clean-up, safety, and security and will be providing our homeless friends with care and fellowship. Training is required.
To sign up and/or find out more information, go to app.vomo.org/opportunity/warming-center. The warming centers are also in need of tons of blankets and other supplies. To find out what is needed and for drop-off instructions, use this link: t.ly/rqmbK. For questions or additional information, please contact Kena Mathews at Community Action Services and Food Bank at kenam@casfb.org.
Stay safe, stay warm, and share to help spread the word! For additional resource information, visit https://utah211.org/ or call 801-441-1993.
Mayor Message:
Now more than ever, opportunities to help others can be easily found. This year, I have served on the Utah County Winter Task Force, and it has been a blessing to see what our county has done to help those in need, particularly those who just want a warm place to sleep at night. The warming centers are looking for volunteers to help at these locations and it is a wonderful chance to help those in need. Information is available on the city website for this and other service opportunities.
I sincerely wish for a wonderful holiday season for all those in our community this year and hope that you will find true joy as we travel towards the experiences of a new year.
Mayor Johnson
