New Warming Center to Open in Dover, NH
Strafford County will gain a new warming center in Dover, New Hampshire, to provide shelter for residents during periods of cold weather. The center will serve individuals experiencing homelessness or those who lack adequate heating.
- The emergency warming center is a collaborative effort between the cities of Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth, and Strafford County. - A non-profit organization, East Coast Evolution Leadership LLC, has been contracted to operate the center for the 2025-2026 winter season for $250,000. - The center is located at 30 Willand Drive in Somersworth, in a building owned by the City of Dover, and will operate from November 15, 2025, to April 15, 2026, during nights of severe weather. - Funding for the center includes up to $75,000 each from Dover and Rochester, in-kind emergency services from Somersworth, and state cold weather shelter program funds administered by Strafford County. - There are plans for a new permanent, year-round emergency warming center to be built on Strafford County land in Dover, near the county jail. - The estimated cost for the new permanent facility is $3.5 million, with Dover's proposed share being $1,698,878. - According to the 2024 Point-in-Time count, Strafford County had the second-highest rate of homelessness within the New Hampshire Balance of State Continuum of Care, with 250 individuals counted. - The current warming center relies on community support through donations and volunteers, with an Amazon wishlist for needed supplies and a system for volunteer shift sign-ups.
