Community Leaders Step Up to Support Homeless During Record-Setting Winter

With a shortage of shelters, organizations in southeast Ohio worked to protect vulnerable residents from deadly cold conditions.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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With Ohio experiencing one of its harshest winters in decades, community leaders in southeast Ohio stepped up to support the homeless population, which was estimated at over 800 individuals in 2025. Many counties in the region lack adequate shelter options, so organizations had to get creative - distributing supplies like propane and sleeping bags, setting up temporary warming centers, and even putting people up in local hotels. However, these efforts faced challenges like transportation, staffing, and funding. Advocates also say the true scope of homelessness in rural areas is often underestimated and misunderstood by local leaders, making it difficult to secure support and resources.

Why it matters

Homelessness is a growing issue in southeast Ohio, exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited shelter options, the extreme winter weather posed a serious threat to the health and safety of vulnerable residents without stable housing. This story highlights the critical role community organizations play in stepping up to protect the homeless population, as well as the political and logistical barriers they face in addressing this complex problem.

The details

In 2025, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio counted over 800 homeless individuals in the southeast Ohio region, though advocates say the actual number is likely higher. Many counties in the area lack traditional homeless shelters or transitional housing, forcing organizations to get creative. Some set up temporary warming centers, while others distributed supplies like propane and sleeping bags. In some cases, they put people up in local hotels, though the high costs limited stays to just a couple nights. Transporting people to available shelters also proved challenging for some groups. Advocates say the rural nature of the region makes the homeless population less visible, leading local leaders to underestimate the scale of the problem and creating political barriers to establishing new shelter options.

  • Ohio experienced one of its harshest winters in decades in 2025-2026, with eight consecutive days below 20 degrees and several bouts of heavy snowfall.
  • In 2025, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio conducted a point-in-time count that estimated over 800 homeless individuals in the southeast Ohio region.

The players

Ginger Schmalenberg

Director of The Gathering Place, a nonprofit in Athens, Ohio.

Susan Arnold

Director of The Washington County Homeless Project.

Stephanie Laube

Director of the Samaritan Center, a nonprofit providing transitional housing in Guernsey County, Ohio.

Luann Cooperrider

Director of the Perry Housing Coalition in Perry County, Ohio.

Tiffany Harvey-Piatt

Social worker in Vinton County, Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“The recent snowstorm and subzero temperatures really brought homelessness to the forefront, at least here in Guernsey County.”

— Stephanie Laube, Director of the Samaritan Center (WOUB)

“These are things we can afford to give out. We can't solve the problem of people not being housed, but when it's the most bitter and the most dangerous, we can help with that.”

— Ginger Schmalenberg, Director of The Gathering Place (WOUB)

“All we can afford is to give people two nights. It was cold much more than two nights. But that's really all we have.”

— Luann Cooperrider, Director of the Perry Housing Coalition (WOUB)

“It's been phenomenal, the support from the community. Nobody wants anyone to pass away because of the cold ... just as soon as we ask for help, somebody shows up.”

— Emily Janey, Social worker in Vinton County (WOUB)

What’s next

Advocates say continued efforts are needed to secure more funding and political support to establish additional low-barrier shelters and transitional housing options in southeast Ohio to better serve the homeless population, especially during extreme weather events.

The takeaway

This story highlights the critical role that community organizations and grassroots efforts play in supporting the homeless population in rural areas, where the scope of the problem is often underestimated and resources are limited. It underscores the need for greater investment and political will to address the complex issue of homelessness, which poses serious threats to vulnerable residents during harsh winter conditions.