🔥 It's dangerously cold

Need a warm place tonight?
Call 211 — they keep today's list of open warming centers and shelter beds for the whole metro. Free, 24/7.

Facts on this page checked online · July 26, 2026.

1. Get warm tonight — free

  1. Warming centers open when it drops, and the list changes daily — 211 has today's version. (The region's emergency-management site, preparemetrokc.org, also points to the state map and 211.)
  2. KC Parks community centers are free warming centers during frigid stretches, during their regular hours: kcparks.org list.
  3. Any public library during open hours. You can just sit and warm up; no one will ask why.
  4. Need an overnight shelter bed? See the housing page — and how shelter intake works, so the first call goes faster.

2. Keep the heat on

  1. Cold Weather Rule (both states): from November through March, utilities can't shut off heat when it's dangerously cold — details and numbers on the utilities page.
  2. Bill help: Missouri LIHEAP and Kansas LIEAP windows are on the utilities page with dates.

3. Check on people

Space heaters near bedding, ovens used for heat, and cars running in garages kill people every winter in KC. If someone is using those to stay warm, help them call 211 instead.