Winston-Salem to fund cold weather emergency shelter for unhoused people

The city of Winston-Salem has agreed to help fund a shelter for those who need housing during dangerously cold weather.

At a Monday meeting, city council members voted unanimously to provide $40,000 to fund a so-called “white flag” shelter operated by local nonprofit organization City with Dwellings. 

White flag shelters only open when temperatures drop below 32 degrees or below 38 degrees with precipitation overnight. 

Mayor Pro Tem D.D. Adams applauded the nonprofit’s efforts but said more needs to be done to address homelessness in the city. She proposed inviting stakeholders to a housing summit to discuss the issue. 

“The developers, the realtors, builders, nonprofits, all of us people that need housing, need to be able to come to the table," she said. "And all of us need to have a very transparent conversation about what we know, how we know it, what are we doing?”

City with Dwellings’ white flag shelter will operate at its facility at 502 N. Broad Street. The city’s funding will cover overnight monitoring and meals for a maximum of 40 adults.