Little Rock emergency shelter opened due to cold temperatures

Little Rock, Arkansas – The City of Little Rock and The Van are making sure that everyone has a warm place to lay their heads when the weather drops below freezing.

“They have done wonderous things for me and my homeless community family and I appreciate them very much,” Jon Taylor said.

A temporary shelter has been established at the Dunbar Community Center, and the Van and other nearby churches are providing free transportation.

“We want to make sure the folks get in and avoid frostbite, avoid succumbing to these elements, if you can do that for somebody, if you can do that for a lot of somebody’s it makes for a good day,” The Van founder Aaron Reddin said.

Since Monday, more than 60 people have had a place to stay, according to Reddin.

“We had 65 folks last night and then what we generally see every year is an increase by about 20 percent per day,” Reddin said.

“A lot of people are here because it keeps them warm, I realize a lot of people have died in the winter,” Taylor stated.

Taylor claimed to have been without a house for eight years.

“Home is where you lay your head, and where your heart is,” Taylor said.

Taylor is grateful to be able to visit a location like Dunbar Community Center when it’s chilly outside.

“At hard times like this, in the winter, it’s a lot easier for the van and other people like them to help us,” Taylor said.

The Dunbar Community Center will be open until Thursday morning if anyone needs a place to stay to get out of the weather.