Cold winter for all: Washington County offering housing to those in need

(Photo by Gwen Sour) The Armory on Front Street in Marietta is serving as an overnight shelter for those attempting to stay out of the cold.
The Washington County Homeless Project has been working tirelessly to provide shelter and resources to those in need during the recent extreme cold weather.
According to Homeless Project Chairwoman Robin Bozian, a representative from the organization, the shelter has been accommodating between eight to 10 people each night, with dedicated volunteers ensuring that operations run smoothly.
However, the cold snap brought unexpected challenges.
“This morning, we came in (to the Day Shelter), and the furnace wasn’t working,” Bozian said Tuesday. “It took us about three hours to get everything running again, and the water was frozen, but we managed to get everything back on track.”
According to Bozian, while food donations have been plentiful, the shelter is still in need of essential items such as laundry detergent, paper products such as plates and bottled water.
Those interested in donating these supplies can drop them off at 374 Front St., Marietta. The shelter is open for donations from Monday to Saturday, between noon and 4 p.m.
“Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated,” Bozian said. “We are still in the process of securing funds for our overnight shelter, and we’re waiting for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to cover half of the costs, we should hear back in the next couple of weeks.”
The Washington County Homeless Project and the city of Marietta have opened the Armory overnight from 5 p.m.-7 a.m. The Day Shelter at 274 Front St. is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gilman United Methodist Church at 312 Gilman Ave. in Harmar will be open as a warming shelter from 7-10 a.m. today.
The shelter is currently well-staffed for the week, but additional volunteers will be needed if the cold weather persists.
“If we have another cold snap next week, we’ll definitely need more hands on deck,” Bozian noted.
The best point of contact for those interested in volunteering is the drop-in center at 740-371-7093.