Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Local Groups Add Additional Support For Homeless During Cold Months

More freezing rain and cold temperatures are expected through Friday morning. This latest storm prompted a White Flag response by community groups to help meet the needs of the homeless population. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Forsyth County agencies have implemented their White Flag emergency response plan to provide a safe warm place for the homeless during the winter storm.

This latest effort is in addition to a new center that opened on Highland Avenue in January to meet the needs when temperatures dip during the winter months.

But that site is more of an auditorium setting, so several community groups found alternative locations to prepare for possible power outages and more people.

"We didn't want our staff where they safely couldn't get home and we also didn't want that type of environment for a potential prolonged stay for folks who are on the street and came in for shelter," says Tracy Mohr, executive director of City with Dwellings.

Mohr says the additional sites served about half a dozen people on Wednesday night. She says those in need of shelter should check-in at the Bethesda Center, or City with Dwellings. The agencies will arrange transportation to these temporary locations if needed.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate