For the past three years, the Winter Haven hypothermia shelter at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park has been a safety net for families in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, where emergency housing for entire families can be hard to find.

This week, however, the shelter moved to a smaller, temporary space at Iglesia Pentecostal Principe de Paz in Gaithersburg so that the Takoma Park church can make repairs to its facilities, said Donna Robinson, who runs the shelter.

“The space [at the church] is no longer available due to needed renovations,” Robinson said. “We will continue to offer emergency shelter, but on a very limited basis. We have been offered a space, but instead of 30 beds for families, we can accommodate eight beds.”

Winter Haven will have use of the new space for about two weeks, Robinson said, then it will have to close until it can find a new permanent home…. [Read full article.]

Hamil R. Harris, The Washington Post