MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — The community of Marshalltown is now offering an overnight warming center for people with no place to stay warm. It began in November when the temperature dropped below 32 degrees.

“The Mid-Iowa Triumph Recovery Center is a mental health drop-in center and so we work with veterans, we work with homeless, we work with people off the street and anybody else,” said Sharon Swope, Executive Director of the center.

Swope has put out a call for churches in the community to open up their doors to get people off the streets when it’s too cold.

“With the cold spell going on, we need the churches to step up and help us and maybe open up their basements for a couple nights a week,” said Swope.

She would like to see a permanent homeless shelter located in this community.

“From the tornado we have still buildings out there and some for rent and so if we could just get one of those to start a real shelter,” said Swope.

Many people who spoke with WHO 13 at the shelter shared how Swope had helped them stabilize their life through mental health issues.

“It’s good that she can get help here for people and people laying outside freezing to death,” said Tonya Montoya, of Marshalltown. “You know that’s the main thing is she needs the help to get funding in here so we can keep this going.” 

Montoya expressed how thankful she is of Swope. She’s stayed in the warming center several nights this week. and she said Swope helped her get into her own apartment. She moves in on Friday.

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