Transitions, in partnership with United Way of the Midlands, Salvation Army, and the City of Columbia, operates an Inclement Weather Center (IWC) at 191 Calhoun on nights where the temperature is expected to drop below 40 degrees or when severe weather conditions exist.

The Inclement Weather Center is open on an as-needed basis from November 1 through March 31. The decision to open or close the IWC is determined using the forecast by the National Weather Service, and the city officially decides by noon whether or not the IWC will open that night.

While EventBrite shows that we need volunteers every day, that does not mean that the IWC will be open. By scheduling yourself, you are agreeing that if the city decides to open the IWC on the day you selected, that you will show up to volunteer. You can always check Transitions' Facebook page to see if the IWC is open that night.

What you should know about COVID-19 precautions:

• To better protect everyone, client intake paperwork will be done for the first few weeks at the COMET bus station in order to allow for better social distancing and temperature checks prior to arriving at the facility. Anyone with a fever will be referred to the hospital. We will need some people at COMET Central to assist with intake paperwork, if possible. You must be comfortable standing for up to two hours.
• At the IWC, people will be socially distanced in line to come into the facility, sign in, get a bed assignment, and then go to put down their belongings. Volunteers helping with sign in and linens will be behind a protective plexiglass barrier.
• After checking in, clients may then line up get dinner, eat, and then must immediately move into the dorms to allow for the next wave of clients to come eat. There are new TVs in the dorms, too!