U.S.: Plano Mosque and Local Churches Provide Shelter to Unhoused Residents During Winter Storm

U.S.: Plano Mosque and Local Churches Provide Shelter to Unhoused Residents During Winter Storm
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As North Texas faced freezing temperatures, volunteers from the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), along with Presbyterian and Catholic churches, operated Plano’s only overnight warming shelter for unhoused individuals. The shelter, located in EPIC’s gymnasium, set up nearly 160 cots and provided meals, showers, and clothing to residents, many of whom helped volunteers with setup.

The initiative, now in its eighth year, opens whenever forecasts predict overnight freezing temperatures or heavy rain. Volunteers work in shifts around the clock to care for guests, with support from the city of Plano, including police and paramedics on site and funding for food and supplies.

The program grew in response to the devastating 2021 winter storm, with EPIC taking a leading role in coordinating assistance for those in need. Residents like Muhammad El-Qasem, newly unhoused, praised the collaboration between Muslim and Christian communities in providing shelter and safety during severe weather.

The shelter can accommodate up to 225 people, and transportation is provided via EPIC’s bus from local transit stations. The effort highlights the ongoing community partnership to protect vulnerable populations during extreme winter conditions in Plano.