DuPagePads Warming Center To Be Open 7 Nights A Week

WHEATON, IL — As winter begins, DuPagePads is doing its part to keep the county's residents safe and warm. The Wheaton-based nonprofit recently opened a warming shelter at its access center that will welcome residents in need nightly during the winter months.

The warming shelter opened Dec. 22 and will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. seven nights a week.

“The biggest barrier that we have faced this winter, and in general, is a lack of shelter availability along with an increased number of homeless individuals throughout our community,” Tori Shaffer, Associate VP of Interim Housing at DuPagePads said in a statement.

Shaffer added, “We think that we will see a lot of different types of people using the warming site, including those dropped off by police officers, hospitals, or walk-in clients who are looking for a warm and safe place to stay. We will look forward to helping families and individuals in addressing their homeless situation and getting them out of the brutally cold temperatures.”

Founded in 1985, DuPagePads supports unhoused residents of DuPage County by providing access to housing, food and other services. In 2021, DuPagePads received $5 million from the county to transform a vacant hotel in Downers Grove into an interim housing center, which opened in 2022.

Residents can click the link to learn how to volunteer at the warming center.

The new warming center is located at the DuPagePads Access Center, 703 West Liberty Dr., Wheaton. Find more DuPage County warming centers here.