City to Open Emergency Overnight Shelter Because of Cold Temperatures

LITTLE ROCK - In anticipation of cold temperatures and the possibility of winter precipitation, the City of Little Rock will open an overnight emergency shelter at the Dunbar Community Center starting today at 6 p.m.

The shelter will remain open until 9 a.m. on Monday. It will open again at 6 p.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Dunbar Community Center is located at 1001 W. 16th St.

The Van, a Little Rock-based nonprofit, will pick up individuals in need of transportation to the shelter. The City of Little Rock is operating the shelter with assistance from the The Van along with other community organizations and volunteers. To request transportation, residents may call (501) 955-3444.

A strong cold front is moving into Arkansas bringing below-freezing temperatures. The emergency shelter is open to all residents in need of a warm, safe place to stay overnight. The City will continue to actively monitor weather forecasts to determine whether to operate the shelter for additional nights.

"We have consistently opened our cold-weather shelters when needed to offer refuge to our unsheltered and others in need during freezing temperatures," said Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. "We are able to do so through the leadership of our city team members and strong support from community partners like The Van and other organizations and volunteers."

To accommodate the City of Little Rock's overnight emergency cold-weather shelter, Dunbar Community Center will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6. The center will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 7, with the exception of the gymnasium, which will be closed for the remainder of the week.