SOMERSWORTH With heavy snowfall in the upcoming week’s forecast, and public uncertainty about the future of the Tri-Cities’ emergency warming center still accumulating, the cities’ mayors say they’re firm in their commitment the facility will continue to serve the region’s increasing houseless population.
Dover Mayor Bob Carrier, Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley and Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard all insisted in separate interviews this past week during an eventful week for the center that the center isn’t going away and the primary criteria for its activation moving forward will be life-threatening cold.
“As to how we go forward, I think whatever we’re gonna to do, we’re gonna have a way to guarantee that our folks who are not sheltered have a place to get to in freezing cold weather,” said McCarley. “Period. End of story.”
SOMERSWORTH The Tri-Cities’ new emergency warming center served nine people during a bitter, snow-swept first night Wednesday.
While people sheltered at the 30 Willand Drive center said they appreciated the reprieve, they also said it served to remind them the greater Seacoast area still lacks more permanent and direct strategies to address causes of the region’s homelessness crisis.
“This is doing nothing but stopping them from dying,” said Christopher Smart, a 35-year-old Dover resident who was among the first to arrive when the center opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Dover, Somersworth and Rochester created the regional center, operating it with Strafford County’s arm of the Integrated Delivery Network and help from local social service agencies and volunteers, to provide a walk-in, overnight facility during periods of life safety risk and extreme cold weather emergencies.