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Dear neighbors,
We are currently experiencing extremely cold weather. Please take a look at these resources from Hennepin County and CenterPoint Energy, and please check on the safety of your elderly neighbors.
Severe cold warming options
Call Hennepin Shelter Hotline with questions about these warming options. The hotline is always available, not just on dangerously cold days.
Hennepin Shelter Hotline: 612-204-8200
If you're in danger of freezing, call 911.
Partner with us to provide a warming space
We rely on local businesses, organizations, churches and buildings to provide this essential service.
If you have an area that can be used as a warming location, contact us at endhomelessness@hennepin.us.
Printable version:
Before going:
- If you can, call ahead to make sure they are open
- Review the services listed - not all sites offer the same services.
Catholic Charities Opportunity Center
Hours
- Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Saturday 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes 2, 5, 9 and 14
Services and resources
- Breakfast and lunch
- Showers
- Internet access
- Laundry
- Mail
- Storage lockers
Hope Avenue Twin Cities
Hours
- Every day, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Services
- Clothing closet
- Meals
- Showers
- Haircuts
- Mats
- Alcoholics Anonymous
Hennepin County libraries
- 612-543-5669
- All Hennepin County libraries are available as warming locations during regular business hours. Hennepin County libraries.
Minneapolis Central Library
Hours
- Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Friday to Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Services and resources
- Indoor heated space
- Time-limited computer access
- No additional services offered
Hennepin County Government Center
Hours
- Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Skyway is open until 8 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes 5, 14, 19, 22, 94 and C Line
- Metro Transit light rail: Blue Line and Green Line – Government Plaza Stations
Building information
Government Center building and plaza rules
MoveFwd Drop-In (Ages 15 - 24 years old)
Hours
- Monday to Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes 615
Services and resources
Services are for ages 15 to 24 years old.
- Housing assistance
- Food and hygiene products
- Employment search
- Advice for how to get a social security card, state ID, birth certificate, etc
Oasis for Youth Drop-In (Ages 16 - 24 years old)
Hours
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes Metro Orange Line, 546
Services and resources
Services are for ages 16 to 24 years old.
- Free Clothes Closet and hygiene/personal care products
- Food resources
- Laundry and showers
- Computer lab and internet access
- Job-search assistance, and educational support
- Transportation assistance
- Referrals to shelter and housing programs including the Suburban Host Home Program
Rental assistance
- Case Management and goal planning
Peace House Community
Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes 2 and 9
Services and resources
- Weekdays
- Lunch, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Dinner, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. provided by loaves and fishes
- Sunday
- Lunch 1 - 3 p.m. provided by People feed the People
Steps of Strategy
Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Services and resources
- Lunch and Dinner
- Peer support
- Case management
- Housing Stabilization Services
- Laundry
- Showers
- Clothing closet
Youthlink (ages 16–24 only)
- 612-252-1200
- 41 North 12th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Youthlink map
Hours
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Public transportation
- Metro Transit bus routes 4, 6, 9 and 12
American Indian Community Development Center (AICDC) KOLA
- KOLA: Walk-in
- 1600 East 19th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404
KOLA map
Hours
Services and resources
- 50 spots on a first-come, first-serve basis
- Meals
- Showers
- Hygiene supplies
Winter overnight shelter beds
Call the Hennepin Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200 to reserve a shelter bed. During the severe cold, 85 additional shelter beds are made available.
Services and resources
- Meals
- Showers
- Hygiene supplies
CenterPoint Energy encourages those facing hardship to call the company to find out about payment arrangements and be referred to resources that may be available to them.
Under Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, residential customers who are having difficulty paying their heating bills are required to set up a payment plan with their utility to prevent disconnection of their service between Oct. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. The Cold Weather Rule applies to both homeowners and renters. To arrange a payment plan, CenterPoint customers can call 800-245-2377 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance.
CenterPoint representatives can also refer customers to resources that provide financial assistance for heating costs such as Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program. This federally funded program helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-eligible households. Applications are still being accepted for this program, and funds remain for Minnesotans this heating season.
CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. The Winter Energy Guide can help customers:
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Prepare a winter emergency supply kit. A winter emergency supply kit should have various supplies including water, non-perishable food for customers, their loved ones and pets, first aid kit, cold weather supplies such as blankets and supplies to have on hand in case of an outage.
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Track energy usage. By managing their accounts online, customers can access an interactive chart that displays their energy usage trends and gives them insights into ways to save energy.
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Take easy actions to reduce energy use. CenterPoint offers a variety of free energy-saving tips that can make a difference in the amount of energy used such as adjusting thermostats, opening blinds during the daytime to take advantage of the sun's warmth and sealing air leaks.
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Implement vital safety tips: CenterPoint offers tips for customers and their loved ones to stay safe throughout the winter heating season including by using space heaters appropriately, testing carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, and by knowing how to identify and report a suspected natural gas leak.
CenterPoint offers a variety of free energy-saving tips that can make a difference in the amount of energy used:
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Make sure your heating system is operating safely and efficiently. An annual inspection and tune-up by a qualified technician are recommended. Change or clean your furnace filter regularly to help maximize your furnace’s efficiency and life.
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Turn down your thermostat. By lowering your thermostat by 7-10 degrees at night or when away for at least eight hours, you can potentially save 10% on heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, your heating system can work around your schedule.
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Keep warm air in and cold air out of your home. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. You can also roll up towels and push them against the bottom of the door’s interior to help prevent heat loss. Close fireplace dampers when not in use, so you don’t lose heat.
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Use window coverings and blinds effectively. If it’s sunny outside, open your window coverings during the day to capture warmth from the sun, and close your coverings at night to keep warmth inside.
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Circulate warm air with your ceiling fans. Set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise slowly to move warm air from the ceiling to your living levels.
CenterPoint offers tips for customers and their loved ones to stay safe throughout the winter heating season
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Use space heaters safely. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
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Test your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If you suspect you could have CO poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.
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Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If you smell the “rotten egg” odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815. Don’t use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark.
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