City of Dover issued the following announcement.
The Warming Center of Strafford County will close Friday, April 1, after providing emergency shelter for unhoused residents daily since Nov. 29, 2021. The Warming Center is a partnership of the cities of Rochester, Dover and Somersworth and the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, which oversaw operations.
The Warming Center, located on Willand Drive in Somersworth, has provided services to more than 315 people this year. As of March 14, the Warming Center has served 218 men and 101 women, with an average age of 40. It has also provided emergency shelter for 71 disabled persons and 11 veterans.
Each client of the Warming Center is provided an opportunity to connect with partner agencies to help them receive services such as medical care, mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, veteran support services, public welfare, and social security benefits. CAPSC has helped clients obtain birth certificates and state identification and help complete applications for disability benefits and Medicaid/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). CAPSC has also helped more than 20 clients find permanent and transitional housing options.
Following the Warming Center closure, those in need of services are encouraged to connect with their local welfare office or with the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. Anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency, including exposure to extreme weather elements, should immediately contact local police, fire or emergency medical services by phone or visiting the emergency service buildings present in each community.
The mayors of the tri-cities of Rochester, Dover and Somersworth continue to work with Strafford County and CAPSC to implement recommendations of the Tri-City Mayors’ Joint Task Force on Homelessness Master Plan adopted in 2019. Current efforts include identifying and offering support to faith-based organizations, treatment providers, and other nonprofit groups delivering services and providing safe respite for the unhoused. Also ongoing is securing state and federal funding for additional transitional housing for the unhoused and efforts to incentivize the development of more affordable and diverse housing options in each community throughout the region.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Tri-city welfare departments
- Rochester: Open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at City Hall, 31 Wakefield St., 603-332-3505; website: https://www.rochesternh.net/municipal-welfare-department.
- Dover: Open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the McConnell Center, 61 Locust St., 603-516-6500; website: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/public-welfare/.
- Somersworth: Open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at City Hall, 1 Government Way, 603-692-9509; website: https://www.somersworth.com/welfare-human-services.
- Open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 577 Central Ave., 603-534-0731; website: https://straffordcap.org/.
- Connect to supportive services, such as obtaining essential documents like a birth certificate, signing up for benefits, applying for jobs and housing, and more.
Those experiencing homelessness anywhere in the state can call 211 to get connected with available resources.
Original source can be found here.
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