OPERATION WHITE FLAG

 What is Operation White Flag?

   
Operation White Flag is a coordinated effort between the Coalition for the Homeless and six designated shelters in Louisville to provide additional shelter for homeless persons during inclement weather. The white flag is flown when the summer temperature or heat index is 95 degrees or higher, when our area is under an Ozone Alert, or when winter temperatures or wind chill is 35 degrees or lower.
 
In order to manage Operation White Flag, Coalition and shelter staff members are involved in the following activities:
 
1. The Coalition monitors the daily weather conditions and notifies the participating agencies of impending severe weather (six shelters and Louisville Metro Police).
 
2. Shelters open additional space with chairs and mats and keep the shelters open until the extreme weather conditions subside. They identify every person above capacity for record-keeping.
 
3. Transportation for homeless individuals is provided to the nearest participating shelter, the detox center if necessary, or nearest hospital if medical treatment is needed. Blankets, beverages and warm clothing are offered to those that choose not to go into a shelter.
 
4. Shelters report White Flag counts to the Coalition monthly.
 
5. The Coalition through funding from Metro Louisville provides funding for staff, supplies, and procedural materials to offset costs associated with operating this life saving program.
 
Many of the clients that access shelter during Operation White Flag otherwise "sleep out" They are often chronically homeless with a disabling condition and having been continuously homeless for a year or more.
 
What is the purpose of Operation White Flag?
 
The goal of the program is to provide safety to homeless persons during inclement weather. Operation White Flag is a life-saving investment to protect our neediest citizens.
 
What shelters are a part of Operation White Flag?
 
The following shelters provide services during Operation White Flag:
 
The Healing Place for Men: (502) 584-6606
 
The Healing Place for Women: (502) 568-6680
 
The Salvation Army: (502) 625-1170
 
Society of St. Vincent DePaul: (502) 584-2480
 
Volunteers of America: (502) 636-0742
 
Wayside Christian Mission: (502) 584-3711
 
How do we know when Operation White Flag is in effect?
 
1. Watch for the white flag flying outside the above shelters.
 
2. Call the Coalition for the Homeless weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (502) 636-9550.
 
3. Call the shelters listed above.
 
4. Call the Crisis and Information Line at (502) 589-4313.
 
5. Check the temperature by calling (502) 585-1212.
 
What do clients need to know about Operation White Flag?
 
Any of the above shelters should allow a client to stay during Operation White Flag. However, according to shelter policy, the client must show proof of being tested and screened for TB.
 
If a client is barred from a particular shelter, staff may not allow that client to stay but will help him or her find another place. A client may stay at a shelter as long as he or she follows the shelter's rules and the weather conditions are severe. It does not mean that a client will get a bed.
 
If a shelter is full and transportation is a problem, Wayside Christian Mission will provide a ride to another White Flag shelter.