Winter Contingency

The City of Indianapolis, in collaboration with the Continuum of Care (CoC) Network, will operate two overflow shelter locations during the 2025 – 2026 winter season in addition to overflow beds at the Assessment and Intervention Center, and Wheeler Mission Shelter for Men and Center for Women and Children.

Note: This document does not include agencies and organizations that do not change their schedules, operations, or resources for Winter Contingency.

Below are the highlights of new information for the City Overflow Shelters. For more detailed information, including warming center hours and extended day center hours, view the full plan below:

The Family & Single Women’s Overflow Shelter (Tibbs) will remain open continuously from December 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, regardless of temperature, to ensure families have uninterrupted access to shelter and support.

The Single Men & Couples’ Overflow Shelter (West Morris), in a new pilot, will be activated based on National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts of 25°F air temperature or below, a 15°F windchill, or precipitation with a windchill of 25°F from December 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.

Note: The NWS defines Air Temperature as the temperature of the free air conditions surrounding the station at a height between 4 and 6 feet above ground level.

Hours of Operation

The Single Men & Couples’ Overflow Shelter at West Morris will open from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM on activation nights. The City of Indianapolis will determine and announce by 8:00 AM each day whether the projected conditions meet the overnight temperature activation criteria stated above. If temperatures do not rise above the activation threshold, the shelter will remain open beyond 8:00 AM until conditions improve and remain above 25°F.

This temperature-based activation model for single men & couples is a pilot being implemented for the 2025/2026 winter season to evaluate its effectiveness in aligning shelter operations with actual weather impacts.

Notification Process

• The City will issue at least a 10-hour advance notification before opening the men’s overflow shelter.
• Notifications will be distributed via:
  • Media Advisories
  • OPHS Social Media Platforms
  • CoC Newsletter Updates Issued by CHIP- (Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention). Sign Up Here
  • IMPD and Professional Blended Street Outreach (PBSO) Teams

Additional capacity may also be available through other independent organizations across the city providing emergency shelter and warming space during severe weather events. We encourage the single men population to still engage the traditional shelter system for accommodation when the overflow weather thresholds haven’t been met.

Coordination & Response

• The plan is being coordinated by the Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) in partnership with the Indianapolis Continuum of Care Network, community shelter providers, public safety agencies, and transportation partners.
• Services and shelter operations will be coordinated by Aspire Indiana Health, a contracted third-party organization, providing wrap-around services.

Shelter Access Information

• Call 2-1-1 (available 7a.m. – 7p.m.) or visit in211.org for information and referrals.
• Contact the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC) at 317-327-4622 during operating hours (8a.m. – 5p.m.).
• Aspire Indiana Health – Direct Shelter Line: 317-764-6914 (For shelter access–related needs only).

Please contact Aspire Indiana Health via email (wintercontingency@aspireindiana.org) to support with supplies, or donate via the winter contingency Amazon Wishlist link here. 

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