A UNIQUE BROWNSVILLE INNOVATION: A CITY WARMING CENTER

(Ed.'s Note: We are always surprised at the creativity of local residents and care providers of the homeless to confront dire weather events like this recent cold snap. As can be seen above, someone hit upon the idea of recycling carboard from local dumpsters to construct a shelter to stave off the cold and rain. One of our seven readers tells us that this individual warming center is on the south side of the Good Neighbor Settlement House at Tyler and 13th streets to protect its occupants – a homeless man and his dog – from the northern gales and the elements.

With the access to three warm meals and shower just around the corner, the site was well chosen to give its occupants access. Notice the square black box – a rodent trap – in front of the carton structure, to ward off the pests.

Many years ago city voters approved a bond issue that included the construction of a homeless shelter where the Mother of Perpetual Home, but the money was diverted and it became a senior citizen assisted living center. The homeless, unwilling to travel all the way out to the Ozanam Center on Minnesota Road, looked for nooks and crannies in the empty downtown buildings and alleys, where they still remain. With the cold snap breaking, these "warming centers" will soon disappear until the next cold front.)