Welcome Inn prepares for another winter helping homeless in Starr Presbyterian Church building in Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (FOX 2) - For the past two decades, the Welcome Inn has provided a place for those struggling to find stable housing space to warm up, have a hot meal, and take a shower.

As the colder weather moves in, the center in Royal Oak is prepping for another winter of helping those who need it the most.

The South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless (SOCH) Welcome Inn Day Center opens Dec. 2 at the former Starr Presbyterian Church at 13 Mile and Crooks roads.

What is the Welcome Inn?

The Welcome Inn Day Center provides shelter in the daytime.

New this year, the center will have access to the whole building after the church closed. In previous years, the Welcome Inn only had access to one floor.

After it was announced that Starr would be closing in the fall, SOCH and the Detroit Presbytery worked together to reach an agreement that would allow the nonprofit to rent the space for the next 20 years.

When the temperatures drop outside, the Welcome Inn opens its doors from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday for those in need. Guests can begin lining up no earlier than 6 a.m.

The center has resources to help 40 adults daily. It's considered a low-barrier center, meaning that adults in need will not be turned away unless they are a danger to themselves or others.

Those who visit the Welcome Inn also spend time with caseworkers who ensure their needs are met, and health care is offered to those who need it as well.

What's next for the Welcome Inn?

Rumors that the Welcome Inn will become a 24/7 shelter are untrue, the organization said. Starr is part of a network of churches in the area that take turns serving as overnight shelters in the winter, so the space is used for an overnight shelter for one week at a time when it's Starr's turn, but it doesn't provide constant accommodations.

According to SOCH, the nonprofit was recently offered a large grant from the county to offer an overnight shelter, but leadership decided to keep it as a day center.

"What we do, we do it very well," said Heather Duenas, the executive director of SOCH.

Because of this, the board decided to keep the Welcome Inn a place where those needing warmth can spend time while overnight shelters are closed during the daytime.

According to SOCH leadership, the center will continue to operate the same way it has, just with more space.

SOCH's board is also looking forward to the future now that it has more room and a guaranteed home for 20 years.

Though no concrete plans are in place, the organization is exploring how it can better assist those in need in the expanded space. SOCH said it will seek community feedback about what is most needed as it maps out future services.