Frontier gym serves as temporary warming center during frigid weekend
Frontier Middle School, shown here during warmer weather, was used over the weekend to ensure those without homes to go to had a warm place to shelter from the freezing temperatures. City and school officials took extra efforts to ensure safety while the facility was used as a shelter.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake and the Moses Lake School District joined forces over the weekend to protect unhoused people from the bitter cold, by opening the Frontier Middle School gym as a temporary warming center, according to a statement from the city.
The Moses Lake Library has been serving as a warming center during the time it’s open, according to the statement, but it’s closed Sundays and was also closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. With temperatures plunging to around zero, the city looked to other local organizations for a place for unhoused people to escape the cold. Because there were no classes either day and no students would be present, the MLSD allowed the city to use the gym at Frontier Middle School as a temporary shelter.
Nine people availed themselves of the gym Sunday and 12 on Monday, according to the statement. The gym was staffed at all times, and guests were monitored. Guests had access to the gym and adjacent bathrooms, but no other parts of the school. The MLSD supplied custodial services on both days.
With the severe weather, the Sleep Center’s hours have been adjusted to correspond with the times the library is closed during the week, the city added. The Sleep Center opens at 6 p.m. and closes at 11 a.m.
“The City appreciates the understanding and support of our community as we seek to provide basic human support services to the unhoused members of our community during severe weather conditions,” the statement said.