Helping hands: Out of the Cold to soon open new home for area’s homeless
Out of the Cold: Centre County (OOTC) is a low barrier homeless shelter located in State College. Out of the Cold is a community supported organization that answers the call to serve those experiencing homelessness in our community by providing shelter, food and support services during the transition to permanent housing. OOTC’s vision is to care for the unsheltered in Centre County working toward a day when homelessness is a rare, brief and one-time event.
As a low barrier shelter, OOTC often serves guests at the intersection of homelessness, incarceration, substance use disorder and mental health. A low-barrier shelter means that the requirements for entry are limited or minimal. With a focus on harm-reduction, low-barrier shelters encourage individuals experiencing homelessness to seek resources by eliminating obstacles. We’re presently serving 27 guests in our congregate shelter and another 15 in transitional settings, totaling 42 guests. This is nearly double our typical number of guests.
Historically, OOTC has provided overnight shelter using participating faith communities as host sites. In December 2021, Out of the Cold purchased a permanent location located at 318 S. Atherton St. In a few months, after renovations are complete, we’ll combine our day and night shelters into one location for a 24/7 shelter. We’re thrilled at the stability that one location will bring to our guests.
A recent guest shared this about this recent experience at Out of the Cold:
“I was previously incarcerated for a year and my life was spiraling out of control. During this time I lost my house and my family had lost all hope for me to turn my life around. Upon release from the county jail, I had absolutely no place to go and nobody to turn to. I heard about Out of the Cold through a counselor at the jail and Centre Peace provided transportation to the shelter. Upon arrival I was received with open arms. These people and this organization, through their compassion, gave me hope when I had absolutely none. They almost instantly turned my shame into motivation by guiding me through the steps that need to be taken in order to be a productive and positive contributor to society. Because of the support this organization has provided me, I now see a very bright, positive and productive future!”
Want to get involved or schedule a tour of our new shelter? Contact us at ootccentreco@gmail.com or 814-852-8864.