COLD WEATHER OVERFLOW SHELTER | BRISTOL COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE

WINTER 2025 – 2026 COLD WEATHER OVERFLOW SHELTER:

Unfortunately as of this post date, the BCCC had not yet received final word as to the opening of any cold weather overflow shelter or warming center in the Greater Taunton, Greater Attleboro areas or in surrounding towns. We will publish additional information when it becomes available.

Here’s what you should know about…

THE 2025-2026 GREATER NEW BEDFORD WINTER OVERFLOW SHELTER

Once again this year Catholic Charities of the Fall River Diocese (CCFR) and Steppingstone, Inc are operating an overflow shelter that will be activated when the individual shelter they operate in New Bedford is full AND certain weather conditions exist. (NOTE: The BCCC will publish a notice on the BCCC Facebook page when the cold weather overflow shelter is activated).

To expand capacity and ensure that all individuals experiencing homelessness can be sheltered safely during extreme weather, additional state funding has been awarded to Steppingstone, Inc. who will operate an overflow motel shelter program in direct coordination with CCFR.

CCFR is providing emergency shelter through a Cold Weather Overflow Shelter Project to unsheltered homeless at a local motel (with a total of 15 units set aside and a total capacity of 30 beds for the overflow shelter). This will be offered when there is no vacancy at either of the Catholic Charities Shelters in New Bedford (Sister Rose and Grace House).

Steppingstone will provide up to 30 Supplemental Emergency Beds through a motel-based overflow model for nights when CCFR’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter has reached maximum capacity. Steppingstone will activate these beds ONLY when the CCFR overflow motel is full AND severe weather activation remains in effect.

This ensures:

No individual is turned away during life-safety weather conditions.
Capacity expands across the region to meet demand.
Steppingstone operates in full alignment with CCFR’s emergency protocol.
Placement decisions follow the same criteria and structured referral process.

The following information is provided to ensure clarity as to how the Cold Weather Overflow shelter will operate during the winter season 2024-2025:

Conditions Activating the Shelter. The Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will be in operation during cold weather months (November 16, 2025 to March 30, 2026) when temperatures are at, or below, 30 degrees and/or severe weather conditions such as a blizzard. Precipitation or snow alone doesn’t ensure that the overflow will open; other factors are taken into consideration coupled with the temperatures such as “feel like” temps. As an example, if the temperature was expected to be at 32 degrees but the wind-chill coupled with rain or snow presents or “feels like” 25 degrees, then the overflow would be activated.
Cold Weather Shelter Staff. The Cold Weather Overflow Shelter project team is composed of CCFR, Steppingstone, PAACA, and Best Security.
Admission Into Shelter. On a daily basis all Providers and Street Outreach teams, should direct all unsheltered individuals to contact Sister Rose/ Grace House as early as 9:30am and no later than 1pm to check on availability or to be put on a waitlist for those shelters. As beds become available individuals will be contacted for placement from the list. This helps in regard to hotel placement and number of expected guests on any given night. When the Emergency Assistance Shelters are at capacity and weather conditions warrant, the Cold Weather Overflow will be activated. CCFR will send an activation email to providers informing everyone the cold shelter is open and the Bristol County CoC will post a notice on its Facebook page. Every year there has been grey area days the team will do the best in our judgment to make the right call. On days that we are expected to open, an email blast will be sent by 12pm.
Transportation to the Shelter. Transportation will be provided by PAACA and all individuals will be picked up in the parking lot of Sister Rose House at 71 Division St. Transportation starts at 3pm and based on 30 individuals PAACA provides roughly 2 trips. Individuals could also take alternative options such as SRTA buses or their own vehicles provided they registered on any given day to stay at the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter. PAACA also provides dinner at the motel when the Overflow is activated.
What Does It Look Like When Folks Go into the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter? All inquiries can be forwarded to Sister Rose House. Guest are encouraged to call the office at 508-997-3202 to confirm if the Overflow will be activated. If so then all individuals should plan to arrive in the parking lot entrance and line up accordingly. All individuals have to be at least 18 years old. Males are assigned with males and females are assigned with females. All individuals are registered and an ID will be provided to verify that the all parties have been registered through the season. Even though many unsheltered individuals are reluctant to accept services, all people are encouraged and asked if they would like to be added to the waitlist. Once registration is done (1pm to 3pm) transportation starts immediately. Once all individuals have arrived at the motel, shortly after the meals provided by PAACA are distributed to all individuals. Everybody is given a wakeup call between 5:30- 6am in which transportation will return everybody back to the parking lot of Sister Rose House. All parties must exit the motel by 6am.
Guidance related to COVID-19. All shelter guests must continue to comply with wearing a mask in shelter setting.

Again: the overflow will be activated on nights when the temperature is expected to be at 30 degrees or less. If the temperature were to drop below 30 at 4 or 5:00am rather than 7 or 8:00pm as an example, it doesn’t ensure that the overflow would open.

All guests are expected to exit the motel by 6 am.

For questions regarding the CCFR Cold Weather Overflow Shelter please contact Ray Duarte of CCFR at (774) 628.9743 or (508) 997.3202.

For questions regarding Steppingstone’s Supplemental Overflow Operations, please contact Project FAIHR at (774) 992.0655.

Emergency Hours Line after 6pm (774) 762.9277 for local hospitals, police departments and emergency responders.