CLAREMONT, N.H. – In 2023, a small group of members of the Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 120 Broad Street in Claremont, N.H., discussed ways to help people in need of a warm place to go. This effort has since grown into a communitywide effort to provide overnight shelter during the winter months.
The Warm Welcome Shelter will open its doors Dec. 1, to begin its fourth winter season of providing a safe place for people experiencing homelessness in Sullivan County and the surrounding area. The shelter will remain open seven days per week through March 31, 2027, welcoming guests from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m.
In January 2024, the church decided to open its doors and offer coffee and a warm place to sit when temperatures dropped below 32 degrees. The Claremont Police Department and Claremont Fire Department approved the arrangement, but determined that people could not stay overnight.
The following winter, from January through March 2025, the effort expanded. The shelter received permission to set up cots to allow people a warm place to come inside from the cold overnight, though they could not sleep.
By December 2025, the Warm Welcome Shelter was opening a month earlier and operating through March 31. Fundraising efforts during that season allowed the organization to hire and train paid staff members, known as hosts, to help oversee the overnight operation.
Shelly Page, who handles administrative management, explained that Warm Welcome Shelter operates as a low-barrier shelter, meaning people are welcomed regardless of the circumstances they may be experiencing. The shelter has 13 trained staff members and 43 volunteers, and can accommodate up to 24 guests each night. Two hosts are on duty at all times, with a third host called in when the number of guests reaches 17 or more.
Hosts arrive at 7:15 p.m. and may remain until 9 a.m. The shelter is open to guests from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m.
Safety is an important part of the overnight operation. Staff members are trained in CPR and the use of Narcan, and emergency services are contacted when necessary. Page said there were no overdoses during the most recent winter season, although the shelter experienced two incidents during the previous year.
Warm Welcome Shelter also works with several local community organizations to help guests connect with services and resources beyond a place to sleep. “We have community partners and work with TLC, Claremont Soup Kitchen, West Central Behavioral Health Services, and we work with Baby Steps,” Page explained.
Representatives from community partner organizations have agreed to visit the shelter in the mornings to meet with guests, learn about their needs, and help them take steps toward accessing additional services. Robin Wittemann, director of Baby Steps, has access to a variety of community resources, including clothing; shower passes at the community center; and help with paperwork for disability benefits, food assistance, and job applications. Guests can also receive aid exploring housing opportunities, including Section 8 housing. The Claremont Soup Kitchen and Pantry also provides three to four meals each week, along with pantry items.
The Warm Welcome Shelter operates in space provided by Trinity Episcopal Church, which also supplies volunteers. Warm Welcome Shelter is responsible for utilities, repairs, and upkeep associated with its use of the space. Southwestern Community Services in Keene, N.H., serves as the shelter’s fiscal sponsor. The organization holds the funds raised for Warm Welcome Shelter, manages payroll, and provides insurance coverage.
As the shelter prepares for another winter, fundraising remains an important part of keeping its doors open. The operating budget is approximately $115,000, and the organization has received a $4,000 government grant. Grant applications are pending, and organizers are hoping for continued support from individuals, businesses, and other community donors. Grant awards have also been received from Bar Harbor Bank and Claremont Savings Bank, along with contributions from other donors.
Several fundraising events are planned for the coming months. Josh Hall will perform an acoustic guitar benefit concert at Trinity Episcopal Church on Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. The Common Man is also planning a dine-in fundraising event on Jan. 17, with 20% of the proceeds being donated to Warm Welcome Shelter.
Volunteers are welcome, and monetary and in-kind donations are appreciated. Items needed include coffee, hot chocolate, toilet paper, paper towels, nondairy creamer, and sugar.
Those interested in making a financial contribution or learning more about the shelter’s needs can visit www.tinyurl.com/WWWSNeeds.
As Warm Welcome Shelter enters its fourth winter season, its continued operation depends on the combined efforts of church members, volunteers, community organizations, donors, and the people who have come together to make sure a warm place is available when someone needs one.