Warming centers prepare to open in Milwaukee County amid cold temperatures

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- As temperatures begin to drop, Milwaukee leaders are taking measures to help those in need of a warm and safe place to stay.

Monday, Nov. 27, city leaders announced their plans to open six warming centers across the area.

"We would love a world where shelters aren’t needed and warming isn’t needed, but we are not there yet," said Stephen Bauer, interim CEO for Guest House of Milwaukee.

Bauer said these warming centers are a temporary solution to an urgent need.

"The biggest challenge is that we have to come up with 200 beds -- there's the need, that's the biggest challenge we have," said Bauer.

The announcement of the warming center came as temperatures across Milwaukee County dipped into the 'teens.

"With sleeping bags, tarps and all that, but without heat, it still doesn’t matter, especially if you're alone," said Kevin Perez, a man who is unhoused and living at the park-and-ride lot near Holt and Sixth Avenue.

The man is now concerned about the dangerous winter weather heading his way.

Perez, not facing the elements alone, is surrounded by dozens of other people who say they're unhoused.

"We're using her propane right now, and if she (Perez's neighbor) runs out, I'll bring mine over because she has animals, so we all kind of conserve together," said Perez.

City leaders plan on opening six warming shelter locations throughout the city.

The centers are expected to all open come Dec. 4.

Advocates of the centers said these are not shelters, but a place to find warmth.

"You can show up if you're cold, they'll let you in until we are at capacity," said Bauer.

Perez said he'll lean on his neighbors during these cold months.

"We give heat to the people in the tents up there and make sure they have propane when they don’t have a heater. If they don’t have heaters, we get them heaters," said Perez.

The list of warming centers can be found here:

• Milwaukee County’s Hillview, 1615 S. 22nd Street
• Greater Galilee Baptist Church, 2432 N. Teutonia Avenue
• Guest House Milwaukee, 1216 N. 13th Street
• St. Ben’s, 930 W. State Street -- (Only if the temperature is 25 degrees that evening)
• Repairers of the Breach, 1335 W. Vliet Street
• The Milwaukee Rescue Mission, 830 N. 19th Street

All warming centers are set to open Dec.4- March 31.