Cold Snap Prompts Code Blue Activation, Emergency Shelters Open in Helena

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 512 Logan St in Helena, opened an immediate overnight low-barrier shelter after a cold snap and snowfall on Feb. 23 activated the Helena Emergency Shelter Plan and a Code Blue response, organizers said. United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area coordinator Jeff Buscher reported that as of Friday about 20 individuals had sought refuge at St. Paul’s and at God’s Love shelter.

That low-barrier shelter at St. Paul’s was set up so people could sleep and stay safe without meeting requirements other area shelters impose. "That means those who need a place to sleep and stay safe throughout the night can go to St. Paul’s without meeting requirements that other area shelters have, like being sober," the Montana Free Press reported. Helena’s long-standing shelter, God’s Love, agreed to participate in the emergency plan and to house any person in need of a place to stay during the activation.

Helena faces a larger housing challenge even when no emergency is declared: Helena’s 2025 homeless count estimated about 140 people living in the city without a permanent home. Organizers had been preparing for months to scale up and address the area’s lack of low-barrier emergency winter shelters when temperatures drop, and the short-term response on Feb. 23 was intended to meet immediate need as winter conditions continued.

Local homelessness service providers, municipal partners, emergency responders, the Greater Helena Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), United Way, local social service groups and COAD helped coordinate the activation and shelter openings, officials said. "With last week’s weather and some yet to come this winter, it’s imperative that Helena meet the needs for its most vulnerable residents, Buscher told MTFP Friday." COAD issued a statement underscoring longer-term aims: “Helena has long faced challenges in providing a low-barrier shelter that meets the needs of unsheltered neighbors,” and “The long-term goal remains to offer a consistent space that provides warmth, safety, and trauma-informed care for individuals who need additional support.”

For context across Montana, the Montana Rescue Mission in Billings reported a larger-scale Code Blue activation earlier in the season. In a Dec. 4, 2025 post, the Mission said, "With the extreme cold, we have expanded emergency service hours to 24 hours a day, and are currently sheltering 156 individuals, including 105, in our emergency facility." The Mission also described its trigger for Code Blue: "The Montana Rescue Mission activates Code Blue procedures when there is a real-feel temperature of 20 degrees or below, with the option to adjust for harsh weather conditions. We also consider advisories from emergency weather notification services." The Mission added, "We’re grateful to provide warmth, safety, and care in these dangerous conditions, and we appreciate the community’s continued support as we meet this urgent need."

Organizers in Helena say the emergency openings are a stopgap while planning for a more consistent low-barrier option continues, and local partners remain engaged as winter weather persists.