Warming Station to Open September 29
ALLENTOWN - River Crossing YMCA is set to open the Allentown Warming Station early this season to help the city accommodate the unhoused community displaced by the closing of the Jordan Creek homeless encampment. The encampment is scheduled to close on Sept. 29 due to safety concerns for residents currently living there.
With support from the United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, the YMCA worked quickly to offer a solution in partnership with the City of Allentown, Lehigh County, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and local citizens. The YMCA Warming Station, located at 425 S. 15th St., will begin accepting overnight guests at 7PM on Monday, September 29, the same day the city plans to close the encampment. The Warming Station, which is traditionally open November 15 - April 15 to provide overnight shelter and services to the unhoused during the cold months, is opening approximately two months early this year to provide services to the community, including those impacted by the encampment closure.
“We are very thankful to the United Way and our local community partners for helping us meet this timely and important need in Allentown,” shared Crystal Messer, V.P. of operations of the Lehigh Valley region of River Crossing YMCA. “Because of our collective response to the call, we can open the Warming Station early, as well as expand our capacity for overnight guests.”
On Thursday, September 18, the Allentown Y hosted over 20 volunteers representing the United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, Alvin H. Butz Construction and State Senator Jarrett Coleman’s office as part of the annual United Way Day of Caring. Volunteers assembled 20 new bunks for the expanded Warming Station, which is now able to provide beds, a warm meal and services to 80 guests each night beginning Monday, an increase of 20 beds from previous years. The Warming Station is open 7PM-7AM every night to adults experiencing homelessness in the Allentown community.
The YMCA has been operating the Warming Station in the Allentown branch since 2018, collaborating with community social service partners Treatment Trends, Valley Health Partners’ Street Medicine Program and Valley Youth House Synergy Project to offer guests access to quality physical and mental health care. Warming Station guests are offered peer support and resources to help establish more permanent housing, as well as treatment for health crises and drug and alcohol addiction. Major annual funding support is provided by City Center Allentown, the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh and First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. To support the Y’s early opening or learn more about the Allentown Warming Station, please visit the Warming Station webpage.
River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 12 member branches, 12 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 44 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit the Allentown Warming Station webpage here.