‘I haven’t suffered since I’ve been here’: CARITAS inclement weather shelter marks halfway through cold season  

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Officials announced on Thursday that the city of Richmond and Henrico County will extend their contracts with the inclement weather shelter CARITAS as they mark being halfway through their winter season.

The shelter opened in December and provides housing and meals for those in need if temperatures drop below 40 degrees. 

President and CEO Karen O'Brien said 275 people have found shelter at CARITAS each month since it opened. 

Warren Duncan is one of those people.

“My feet have not been cold," he said. "Nobody goes hungry around here.” 

Duncan was living out of his truck in north Chesterfield when it got stuck in ice from the most recent winter storm. 

“I needed a jacket," he said. "And I was walking around literally shaking and hugging myself...They took me out of a bad situation and put me into a world that I didn’t know was available for me.” 

Duncan found a church near the spot his truck got stuck that got him to CARITAS to get warm clothes, sleep inside and be fed. 

“I’m so glad that people are not sleeping outside in the cold and that CARITAS can be here for the community," O'Brien said. “The winter hit us so hard and fast.” 

She said besides giving those in need a place to stay for the night, they’ve helped nine people find permanent housing, and another 10 have been connected to a year-round shelter to eventually move into permanent housing. 

They also serve around 600 meals a day but can get up to 900 when there's a surge.

“When I go home and I have heat in my house and a car that runs and a bed to sleep in, I'm just more grateful than I ever could be," she said.  

The shelter will be officially operating until March 31 and is expected to be open this weekend as cold temperatures stick around.

Rather than dreading the remainder of winter, Duncan knows he has a place to stay.  

“It just overwhelms me and I do appreciate it," he said. “I haven’t suffered since I’ve been here.” 

If you need a warm place to stay, first go to the Salvation Army at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue. 

Once beds fill up there and it’s below 40 degrees, transportation will be provided to the CARITAS shelter, but you must go to the Salvation Army first.