SOS awarded contract to operate Tri-City warming center beginning in November

posted on 10/28/2022

Strafford County, through a partnership with the cities of Dover, Somersworth and Rochester, has contracted with SOS Community Recovery Organization to operate the warming center on Willand Drive in Somersworth on an emergency basis, from Nov. 25, 2022, through March 31, 2023.

SOS estimates it will be open 70 to 90 nights through the winter season. When activated, the warming center will be available for those seeking shelter from 5 p.m. through 9 a.m. the following morning. SOS is partnering with area agencies, including Red's Good Vibes, which will help provide food. SOS will also need volunteers and support from local restaurants, supermarkets, and agencies involved in food insecurity to provide nutritious meals and snacks.

Volunteer training sessions

SOS will conduct at least three volunteer trainings at the warming center before Nov. 25. Those seeking to volunteer should complete a volunteer application available on SOS's warming center page www.sosrco.org/what-we-do/willand-warming/. SOS states that volunteers will be required to have COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, among other vaccinations. When activated, all staff, volunteers and participants must wear a mask inside the warming center. When activated, the warming center will open at 4 p.m. for staff and volunteers and 5 p.m. for participants. It will remain open and will remain open until 9 a.m. the following morning for participants, with volunteer and staff clean-up through 10 a.m.

Warming center manager, coordinators needed

SOS will hire a full-time warming center manager, two part-time coordinators and six to 10 per-diem coordinators. Interested people should email resumes to SOS Director John Burns at John@sosrco.org. Paid "per-diem" warming center coordinators would work four to 12-hour shifts between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.

City Manager updates City Council, public on warming center bid process

At this week's City Council meeting, City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. provided an update on the bid process for the warming center. At the time, Strafford County was still finalizing the contract with SOS.

Click here to view Joyal's update on the warming center.

SOS' proposal was one of two received through the request for proposals issued by the City of Rochester on behalf of the tri-cities to operate the warming center this winter, Joyal said. Following a review of its submission, Strafford County and tri-city officials have recommended engaging SOS to operate the facility. The Strafford County Commissioners have also arranged to provide additional funding that SOS identified in its proposal beyond the previously budgeted amounts for the warming center's operation. Dover and Rochester each budgeted $50,000 for operations, and Somersworth agreed to provide police, fire and emergency medical services for the center's operation.

Joyal said the county offered to serve as the contracting entity with SOS. He said this would ensure appropriate oversight provided by a county's human service staff member who has extensive training and experience in serving homeless populations and previously served as the state's homeless services expert during the COVID pandemic. Joyal said details on the warming center's activations procedures used in extreme weather conditions, including communication responsibilities and channels to be utilized, are being finalized and will be publicized soon.

The City of Dover owns the warming center facility at 31 Willand Dr., Somersworth. It was purchased in late 2020 with federal funds to help ease pressure on regional facilities that provide services to the unhoused during the first winter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public services available for those in need

Joyal also reminded the council and the public that anyone needing emergency shelter, food or medical care should visit the public welfare office in the municipality where they live.

Dover's Welfare Office is at 61 Locust St., on the McConnell Center's third floor. It is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 603-516-6500 or visit www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/public-welfare/ for more information.

In addition to the welfare offices, those in need can also visit the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, located at 577 Central Ave., in Dover. CAPSC provides an array of services to address various needs, including for unhoused persons. CAPSC is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact 603-435-2500 or visit straffordcap.org for more information.

City facilities serve as warming and cooling centers

Dover's public facilities are available any time of the year for those who need respite from the weather conditions, whether heat or cold, rain or snow, life-threatening or otherwise. During regular business hours, City Hall, the McConnell Center and the Dover Public Library remain open and available for anyone to come in from the weather. At any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Dover Police and Dover Fire department facilities remain open and available for anyone to visit and request assistance on the spot, Joyal said.

The Dover Police Department, at 46 Chestnut St., has a lobby with seats that can be accessed any time.