Warming stations become a hot topic as temperatures in Birmingham hit freezing
When temperatures drop, the City of Birmingham typically opens up the Boutwell Auditorium as a warming station for people who are homeless or don’t have access to heat.
When it snowed Sunday night and temperatures stayed low on Monday night, that didn’t happen. Local community activists placed blame on city leaders for not offering that protection from the cold.
“I have to do this every year and every year it takes me having to get on social media and rile up the community for them to act,” Star Robb said, the founder of Be A Blessing.
The nonprofit gives people who are homeless meals, clothing, and hygiene products.
“Every year, same time, winter comes. The city knows this. Everybody knows this. We do have days on which it is below freezing. It is absolutely inhumane to have anybody outside. So these plans should already be in place,” Robb said.
According to Don Lupo, the city’s operations manager, a specific policy for a warming station is not in place, but there are guidelines. A station is opened when it’s 32 degrees or below for two or more consecutive nights.
“Twice in 20 years we have not been able to do a warming station anywhere,” Lupo said “We’re not a shelter. We’re really a place to have people come, get in out of the cold for a very limited period of time. ”
Lupo said officials did everything they could to open a warming station on Sunday and Monday. Lupo mentioned it was a holiday weekend and there was a church service at Boutwell Auditorium Sunday afternoon. Since officials couldn’t open their own location, the city donated food, cots and other supplies to area shelters.
However, the City of Birmingham will host a warming station at the BJCC Thursday and Friday night in collaboration with One Roof, an agency dedicated to ending homelessness. If the forecast continues to show freezing temperatures, the BJCC warming station will remain open. The city also works with several shelters: The Salvation Army, the Firehouse Shelter and First Light. People who need to escape the cold can seek assistance from those organizations.
Don Lupo and Star Robb agreed a warming station only goes so far. They believe the current system is just a band-aid on bigger issues, and something more needs to be done.
Robb said she would put together a warming station with her own resources, but would need access to a building. Lupo says city officials are working for a more permanent solution.
Auburn tabs USF’s Alex Golesh as its next coach, replacing Hugh Freeze on the Plains
The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains.
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
