South Mississippi leaders extend helping hand to those seeking warm shelter

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) – As a result of a cold front that made its way across South Mississippi, leaders extended a helping hand to those seeking warm shelter.

The Kenny Fournier Multipurpose Building in D’Iberville has been open for 14 years and has prepared cots, blankets, hot meals, and blankets. Bathroom spaces are also available, and the building is heated.

Shelter Director Windy Swetman says that the number of people who take advantage of the cold weather shelter has gone up this year as opposed to previous years.

“This year’s numbers are higher than the last several years,” Swetman said. “Typically 30 to 40 is what we’ll see, but when you get a long run and it gets this cold, you get more people in there.”

As many as 80 people took advantage of the cold weather shelter, which remained open 24 hours for several days.

With the success that Swetman has had opening the doors to the shelter and lending a helping hand, he says that it has led to other cities and counties reaching out for advice.

“This isn’t the first year I’ve had other counties call and say ‘Hey, how do you do this?’ This is not difficult,” Swetman said. “First of all, you got to have somebody who just takes leadership. Be in charge.”

“All you need is a building with heat. You have community centers, and county buildings, so you just need someone to go there and open the door.”

As Swetman continues to look out for the community, he is confident that good leadership goes a long way in helping out those in need.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Swetman said. “If you’ve got leadership in the cities and the counties and someone is willing to go there and take this challenge on, they can easily do this. It’s not overcomplicated, it just takes willing partners in that.”

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