On Wednesday, December 11, Catholic Charities West Virginia opened an overnight winter shelter for the homeless at Hazel’s House of Hope, located on Scott Avenue in Morgantown. The shelter, located one floor below the agency’s Grace Shelter, opened ahead of its originally scheduled date of December 15 in response to incoming winter weather.
“With a cold front coming in and snow in the forecast, we decided to open the shelter early to provide a safe place for our unhoused neighbors,” said Dr. Jessica Thompson, Director of Grace Shelter at Catholic Charities West Virginia.
The winter shelter will remain open from 8:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. daily through March 15, providing 22 beds — with one dormitory for men and one for women. Each dormitory includes access to restroom and shower facilities.
Funding for the shelter was provided by the City of Morgantown.
In addition to providing overnight shelter, Catholic Charities West Virginia has partnered with WVU’s Project Mushroom to offer critical medical support. Project Mushroom’s team of nursing students, residents, and doctors will visit the shelter twice a month to assess clients’ immediate needs, offer medical triage, and connect them with further healthcare resources.
“We’re grateful to be able to provide this possibly life-saving shelter for folks this winter,” said Dr. Thompson. “Our mission is to serve those in need with compassion and dignity. By opening our shelter early, we’re living out that mission and responding to the urgent needs of our community.”
Catholic Charities West Virginia operates with a commitment to serving vulnerable populations across the state, providing resources such as food assistance, housing support, and emergency relief services. The opening of this winter shelter underscores the organization’s dedication to supporting those experiencing homelessness during the harshest months of the year.
“We believe that everyone deserves a warm, safe place to sleep,” Dr. Thompson added. “We are humbled to offer this shelter and grateful to our partners and donors who make this possible.”
