Chum Warming Center Open To Those In Need

DULUTH, Minn. — The temps are dropping fast and starting Wednesday at 6pm, the Chum Warming Center in Duluth will officially be open.

The center serves as a safe, warm overnight stay for those experiencing homelessness or simply have nowhere else to go.

Safety protection, warm clothing, food, showers, and other resources are also available at the center.

Last year over 600 individuals stayed the night. Stepping On Up’s project organizer says there can be some misunderstandings surrounding homelessness.

“The root cause of homelessness in our community is the lack of housing, affordable housing. Now there are people in our community who are experiencing homelessness and are also dealing with other disabilities or substance use disorder. Those are separate issues. Homelessness can exasperate a lot of those conditions. So, the solution to homelessness is to create housing for people,” said Joel Kilgour, project organizer for Stepping On Up.

Community members who’d like to help out can go to Stepping On Up’s website. Chum’s Warming Center is open every day from 6pm to 8am now through mid-April. That’s at 2014 West Third Street, Door 2 in Duluth.