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

Winston-Salem to fund cold weather emergency shelter for unhoused people

The city of Winston-Salem has agreed to help fund a shelter for those who need housing during dangerously cold weather.

At a Monday meeting, city council members voted unanimously to provide $40,000 to fund a so-called “white flag” shelter operated by local nonprofit organization City with Dwellings. 

White flag shelters only open when temperatures drop below 32 degrees or below 38 degrees with precipitation overnight. 

Mayor Pro Tem D.D. Adams applauded the nonprofit’s efforts but said more needs to be done to address homelessness in the city. She proposed inviting stakeholders to a housing summit to discuss the issue. 

“The developers, the realtors, builders, nonprofits, all of us people that need housing, need to be able to come to the table," she said. "And all of us need to have a very transparent conversation about what we know, how we know it, what are we doing?”

City with Dwellings’ white flag shelter will operate at its facility at 502 N. Broad Street. The city’s funding will cover overnight monitoring and meals for a maximum of 40 adults.

April Laissle is a reporter and WFDD's host of All Things Considered. Her work has been featured on several national news programs and recognized by the Public Media Journalists Association and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Before joining WFDD in 2019, she worked at public radio stations in Ohio and California.

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

Donate