North and South Bay warming centers to remain open amid cold weather
BAY AREA -- Several warming centers will be open into the weekend in both the North and South Bay, where temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s overnight through Sunday.
Santa Clara County has seven warming centers set up in the Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and Woodland library branches. They will be open during the day and early evening hours, which vary by location, according to an announcement Monday from the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management.
Five additional warming centers will be open at the city of Santa Clara's Central Park, Mission and Northside library branches, as well as the Community Recreation and Senior centers.
The hours for each can be found at emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/, by clicking on the first slide titled, "Prepare for Cold Weather." Free rides to the centers will be available through Friday for people using the buses and light-rail vehicles of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, or VTA.
The county has also set up an overnight shelter program in Mountain View for women and families that opened Monday and is scheduled to open daily from 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. through March. The shelter is located at the Los Altos United Methodist Church's Mountain View campus at the corner of Hope and Mercy streets.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian first proposed the shelter back in 2017.
"People need a place to go, particularly when it's cold and wet outside," he said. "It's as simple as that."
Additionally, several North Bay counties and cities are extending their temporary warming shelters through Friday evening due to freezing temperatures.
Marin Health and Human Services is opening the shelter from 3 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday at 3240 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael. People are encouraged to sign in by 8 p.m. Friday.
In Vallejo, an overnight winter warming shelter that had opened on Thursday evening has been extended through Friday evening at the Norman C. King Recreation Center at 545 Magazine St. from 8 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. People looking to get out of the cold are encouraged to bring their own sleeping bags or blankets. Space is limited, so entrants are also asked to only bring one small bag of personal items.
The city of Sonoma will also be extending its temporary shelter at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building for Friday evening through Saturday morning. The veterans building is located at 126 First St. W. and will be open from 7 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday.
Light snacks and beverages may be provided but people are asked to bring no more than one small tote or daypack with them. Masks are required and must be worn at all times.
