Warming centers activated for homeless tonight

Two Spokane warming centers are being activitated tonight to shelter homeless residents who otherwise would shiver outdoors in the arctic cold, city officials said this morning. The House of Charity at Pacific Avenue and Browne Street will open for adult men and Salvation Army, 204 E. Indiana Ave., will open for families with children and couples without children. Doors are going to be opened at 8 p.m. for overnight shelter without sleeping accommodations. The sites are opened for drop-ins when temperatures are forecast to fall to 15 degrees or colder. A low of 15 is expected in Spokane tonight. The city said the sites are used to shelter the homeless from extreme conditions during short intervals during the coldest winter weather and when other lodging facilities for homeless are at capacity. The Crosswalk shelter for homeless youth had beds available for independent youth last night and Hope House had beds for single women.