Code Blue shelter in Saratoga Springs to move to Henry Street church

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Guests settle into their cots at the Code Blue shelter in Saratoga Springs on January 15, 2015.

Soul Saving Station Church on Henry Street will host the Code Blue seasonal homeless shelter this winter, supporters of the program have been told.

Shelters of Saratoga will officially announce the designation Wednesday at Soul Saving Station.

The church, located at 62 Henry St., will take on the role performed the past two winters by the downtown Salvation Army building, which took in the homeless on cold or snowy nights.

Code Blue Saratoga provides temporary, unrestricted shelter to individuals who are homeless during periods of hazardous winter weather. It was established in late 2013 after a homeless woman died while sleeping outdoors on a cold night.

It has operated in the downtown area for the past three winters.

The first year, the Code Blue shelter was in St. Peter’s School. The following two winters, it was at the Salvation Army building on Woodlawn Avenue.

But in May, Salvation Army officials said they needed to return their organization to its core mission of aiding in emergencies after hosting Code Blue for more than 80 nights each of the previous two winters.

Through Code Blue, those without other shelter are provided with safe sleeping accommodations, meals and essential supplies. Code Blue is in effect when the forecast calls for temperatures to be 32 degrees or colder or when 12 inches or more of snow is forecast.

Code Blue relies on the support of community volunteers to assist those in need. Activities include setting up cots, meal preparation and cleanup.

Groups and individuals interested in supporting shelter activities can sign up at http://codebluesaratoga.org.

Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.