The city’s warming center will reopen this winter with additional funding provided by a state grant.

By Harry Kane

More money is being allocated to help the homeless thanks to another generous grant from the state. The winter warming center will reopen on December 8 and provide safe sleeping spaces through April 12 at the former Cummings School building.

A grant of $304,954.10 from the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities was awarded to the Health and Human Services Department for Somerville’s most vulnerable.

“We were awarded the grant,” said HHS Director Karin Carroll. “It’s to cover, essentially, the operations after the first four weeks.”

The grant money will cover the costs associated with 25 of the 35 cots from January through April, explained Carroll at the city council meeting on November 25.

Some funding had already been earmarked by the city for the warming center from the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund, which was approved during an earlier city council meeting on October 23, totaling $147,724.07.

Additionally, the Massachusetts Largest Cities Innovative Homelessness Solutions Grant Program had awarded another $119,095.58 for the warming center this year, said Public Information Officer Victoria MacGregor.

Last year, the city decided to transform the former Cummings School building into an overnight warming center for unhoused residents during the cold months. Before that, the warming center operated out of the second floor of the Armory.

The warming center will provide hot meals, bathrooms, and safe sleeping spaces for residents experiencing homelessness.

To accommodate more homeless individuals, renovations were made at the building that expanded the center’s sleeping area to accommodate 35 cots and overflow space for 10 people, said MacGregor.

The warming center now has ADA accessible indoor bathrooms, a permanent wheelchair ramp outside the building, and an expanded fire alarm system.

The warming center will operate seven nights a week from 5 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. on the second floor of the former Cummings School located at 42 Prescott Street. Clients will have access to hot meals, safe sleeping spaces, and on-site housing navigation and case management services.  For more information about Somerville’s Emergency Overnight Warming Center, visit somervillema.gov/warmingcenter or email warmingcenter@somervillema.gov.