12/19/2025
JCESC Resource Network releases list of warming centers
STEUBENVILLE – The Jefferson County Educational Service Center Resource Network is sending out lists of warming centers to agencies, service providers and others on the Community Connections email to spread word during the cold weather season that recourse is available.
The recent heavy snowfall and chill have made it clear winter is here, and with the closing of emergency homeless shelters the Resource Network saw a need on the horizon. The network has been active in reaching out to people who want to help and coordinating with any organization wishing to open their doors.
Developed and offered through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center (JCESC), and funded by the Jefferson County Commissioners, the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Jefferson County General Health District, and the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, the Resource Network has created a website and an app as part of a one-stop hub to help the public navigate the many available resources.
Resource Network Community Service Coordinator Beth Rupert Warren said the Resource Network is attentive to gaps in services and immediate action was called for.
“It’s obviously a gap of services, but this is almost like a crisis gap of service, because with the temperature getting colder people need resources. People are coming forward offering help and to provide support to the agencies. People are offering support in the community.”
Rupert Warren said the size of the homeless population is not known, but the need is evident and now is the time to pull resources together and make the public aware of what is out there. She added the community’s generosity is impressive.
“They want to help with food. They want to help with gloves and warm clothes and things like that,” she said. “I’ve been encouraged to see how many people in the community are willing to come and help.”
The Resource Network has been perfectly situated to bring diverse providers together and to promote the results.
Housing Assistance and Homeless supports are also featured on the Resource Network app and can put users in touch with agencies, but the warming centers are temporary and so not included on the app. The list itself could change as new warming centers are added or hours shift.
In the long term, the Resource Network has also been making inquiries into potential options for new homeless shelters. One agency that offers services in Jefferson County has expressed an interest in reopening a shelter, but there is no timeline yet.
Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. commended the initiative.
“Obviously there’s a huge need to be able to have such shelters available, especially considering our homeless population and the depressed nature of our county at the moment. There’s a lot of people in need,” he said.
“Those shelters that were sent out, we sent them out (Dec. 16) to the Resource Network,” he said. “The Network does a good job of collaborating with all the agencies in the county and does a good job of making sure the people in the county are aware of all the resources that we do have. There are some people who just don’t realize there are resources available to them.”
He added anyone in need of a place to be warm and dry should call the warming centers. They can also reach out to the sheriff’s office at 740.283.8600 and his department will find somewhere for them to go or make some type of arrangement so they can get out of the weather.
Warming centers include the Beacon House in Steubenville. Assistant Director Dan Obertance of the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, who serves on the board of Beacon House, said service providers were committed to doing all they could and it is good to have access to a network that helps make the most of their capabilities.
“We all want to be part of the solution to this, and I think that everyone is doing the best that they can and the most that they can at this time to mitigate the problem as much as possible.”
Fire Chief Dwayne Moore of the Bergholz Volunteer Fire Department said their doors were open at 724 Monroe St. and they have a generator should there be a power outage. He is concerned for both the homeless and for those who might lose power and be without heat.
“We’ll be open 24 hours,” he said. He also noted the value of the Resource Network for getting word out.
“The more people that have more information of the situations they can go to, it makes it better for them, especially the older people that might not know around our area that we are a warming center.”
For more information about the Resource Network, visit jcresourcenetwork.org or email info@jcresourcenetwork.net.
The warming centers currently listed are:
Steubenville Main Library
407 South 4th St.
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone: 740.282.9782
Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed Sunday
MLK Recreation Center
905 Market St. Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone 740.283.6000
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m-5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Friendship Room
419 Logan St.
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone 740.314.5095
Hours to be determined
Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church
708 North 5th St.
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone 740.282.9257
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Beacon House
732 North 6th Avenue
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone 740.996.7100
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Those in need of a warming center in Wells Township can reach out to trustee J.J. Kamerer at jkamerer127@gmail.com, 740.381.0560.
The East Springfield VFD. Contact Chief Tyler Yoho at Esvfd38@gmail.com, 740.491.8781.
The Knox Township and Toronto Fire Department. Contact Chief Ryan Boyd, Rboyd2906@yahoo.com, 740.632.2527.
The Bergholz VFD. Contact Chief Dwayne Moore, villageofbergholz@yahoo.com, 740.381.1896.
Photo Caption:
The need for warming centers was among the issues addressed by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Resource Network during a recent Community Connections gathering. The Resource Network has released a list of service providers who are offering a place to keep warm.
