Emergency Warming Shelter

A Safe Place When It Matters Most

When temperatures become dangerously low, the Compassion Center steps forward to provide a safe, warm place for neighbors experiencing homelessness in Cartersville and Bartow County.

Our Emergency Warming Center offers more than protection from the cold. Guests are welcomed with compassion and dignity, provided meals and basic necessities, and connected with people who genuinely care about their well-being.

The Warming Center is a community-wide effort made possible by volunteers, churches, donors, Emergency Services, hospitals, and local partners. During our 2026 activation, we operated for 19 consecutive nights, welcomed 85 individuals, and received 812 volunteer hours.

The Warming Center is not a year-round shelter. It is activated during qualifying cold-weather conditions to provide immediate safety while creating opportunities to connect guests with resources, care, and pathways toward stability.

During the coldest nights of the year, we believe no one should have to face them alone. Together, our community can offer warmth, safety, dignity, and hope.

See our Calendar of Events for specific dates and times - Updates will be posted within 36-hours of a expected weather event.

. *Dates subject to change based on forecast

Information will also be shared on our social media platforms: Instagram @compassionga and Facebook @CompassionCenter

Emergency Shelter services may be extended for other weather conditions based on recommendations from the Bartow Fire Department and other Georgia Emergency management agencies.*

Location

Grace Baptist Church Gymnasium
477 Old Cassville White Rd
Cartersville, GA 30121

More Than a Warm Place

Restore Dignity

Creating a safe and welcoming space where every person is treated with compassion, respect, and worth.

Return Hope

Meeting immediate needs while reminding our neighbors that they are not forgotten or alone.

Create Pathways

Building relationships and connecting individuals to resources that can support wellness, stability, and lasting change.

Warmth

Dignity

Hope

Compassion

Community

Warmth Dignity Hope Compassion Community

Restoration

Stability

Empowerment

Love In Action

Kingdom Impact

Restoration Stability Empowerment Love In Action Kingdom Impact

  • Activation dates and operating information are normally announced within approximately 36 hours of an expected weather event. Updates are posted on the Compassion Center website, event calendar, Facebook page, and Instagram account, and through local emergency services and hospitals.

    Because weather forecasts and operating conditions can change, guests and referring organizations should verify that the center is open before arriving.

  • The Warming Center serves adults experiencing homelessness or unsafe sleeping conditions during qualifying cold-weather events. It is currently an adults-only facility.

  • We partner with Grace Baptist Church in their gymnasium located at:

    Grace Baptist Church

    477 Old Cassville White Rd

    Cartersville, GA 30121

  • Check-in generally begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until the center reaches capacity. Guests should review the activation announcement for the exact check-in time and any event-specific instructions.

    Yes. All guests must check in by 6:00pm to secure a bed each night and in for the night by 11:00pm. Doors will lock and there is no reentry after that time.

  • Guests should bring necessary medications, identification if available, weather-appropriate clothing, and only essential personal belongings. Space is limited, so guests should avoid bringing large amounts of property.

  • Guests should contact the Compassion Center before arriving for the current policy regarding animals. Service animals are addressed according to applicable requirements, but the facility may not be able to accommodate pets or emotional-support animals during every activation.