Cash-strapped Toledo homeless shelter closes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Some homeless people in Toledo will be out in the cold for the rest of the winter because the city’s emergency shelter is out of money.

The executive director of the shelter at St. Paul’s Community Center said the “winter crisis” overnight shelter will close Sunday because funding has run out.

Marcia Langenderfer said shelter funding has been cut by cash-strapped social service agencies this year. She said about $13,000 is needed to operate it through February.

Langenderfer said officials had hoped to raise more money through donations to extend the program, but contributions never materialized.

The Blade newspaper reports that more than 900 people stayed overnight at the 50-bed shelter in January, far outpacing demands of previous winters. February’s numbers also appear to be higher than normal.