Warming Center move to City Hall basement deemed a success

By Barbara Taormina

Last winter, there was an uproar when the city announced it would open an overnight warming center in the senior center for homeless people and anyone in need of a warm place to stay. Seniors were concerned about disruption of programs and the spread of covid and other illnesses. Some may recall Councillor-At-Large Marc Silvestri’s passionate response that all homeless people needed was a place to stay warm, to stay alive.

But in March, after the Warming Center closed for the season, Health and Hunman Services Director Lauren Buck called the emergency shelter a success. Buck said there was no spread of illness among Warming Center guests and staff or seniors, and no problems with trash, drugs or alcohol. Revere police were called to the Warming Center three times: once for a medical emergency and two other times for incidents that were quickly resolved.

Still, Housing Families, the Malden-based housing advocacy organization which operates the Warming Center for Revere, advised the city to consider another site since the senior center site used two floors, which requires more staff and more funding.

And that’s what the city has done. The emergency Warming Center is moving to the basement of City Hall. The Warming Center will take the space of the Water and Sewer Billing Department, which has moved to the new Public Works building. Some wondered if the move was being made to accommodate migrant families in need, but city councillors said migrant families were being housed at the city’s hotels.

Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said the change will ease any anxiety seniors have about hosting the Warming Center in their center. “The mayor made the change,” said Novoselsky. “It was his call.”