As bitter cold grips Indianapolis, warming shelters have opened their doors to provide refuge for residents in need.
Warming shelters are now available at multiple locations across Indianapolis, offering heated spaces, meals and other essential services for individuals and families facing homelessness or struggling to keep their homes warm. Here’s a list of warming shelters providing help to the community:

Indy Parks Family Centers
Indy residents are welcome to warm up in any Indy Parks Family Center during normal business hours. The following centers are open to the public:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Municipal Gardens Family Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center: Washington Park Family Center will serve as an overnight shelter through Jan. 16, 2025. The center will extend open hours from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. No check-in or sign-in is required.
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
For more information, visit indy.gov/activity/indy-parks-family-centers.

Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children
This facility served women and children experiencing homelessness or seeking emergency shelter. Wheeler Mission will offer 45 days of emergency care including hygiene products, shelter, clothing and meals, while assisting with resources.
Wheeler Mission is at 3208 E. Michigan St. For more information, visit wheelermission.org/our-work/womens-services or call 317-687-3630.
Wheeler Mission Center for Men
Wheeler Mission offers temporary emergency services for men in need including breakfast, lunch, dinner, showers, clothing, chapel services and case management services. Medical, dental, podiatric and vision services are also available.
The center is at 520 E. Market St. For more information, visit wheelermisison.org/our-work/mens-services or call 317-687-6795.
Additional Resources
The Winter Contingency Plan was developed by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention, the city of Indianapolis and Wheeler Missions for people experiencing homelessness. The plan outlines steps to aid residents from Nov. 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, in the event of harsh winter conditions. For more information and to read the plan in its entirety, visit chipindy.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.