The higher temperature threshold for White Flag events resulted in more than three times the number of qualifying nights this winter prior to the previous year. The Daviess County Emergency Management Agency and the Homeless Coalition are in talks about whether the threshold change will benefit the community moving forward.
White Flag events call for shelters to open their doors to individuals seeking refuge from low temperatures. Depending on the shelter’s availability, they are provided a bed and meal during their stay. The City and County primarily partner with St. Benedict’s and the Daniel Pitino Shelter during these months and help cover some expenses involved in the event.
City and County officials raised the White Flag event threshold from 15° to 32° in November, just as White Flag season began. The change came after concerned citizens felt 15° was too low.
There were 18 White Flag events declared during the 2022-23 season, according to EMA Director Andy Ball. He said there were 87 White Flag events declared during the 2023-24 season.
“Of the 87 nights this year, only 25 would have met the previous 15° criteria last year,” Ball said.
Ball reported that 335 unique attendees attended at least one night throughout the season. However, including repeats, Ball said they had 2,163 individuals sheltered throughout the 2023-24 season. Ball said that included 1,733 men, 422 women, and eight children.
Ball also noted that 42 of those attendees were not residents of Daviess County. While it is typical for some non-residents to attend White Flag events, Ball said he’d prefer if it didn’t happen.
“This is paid for by Daviess County taxpayers, so we would like to see it be Daviess County people while these other counties take care of their own. What happens is sometimes somebody will get transported to the hospital here, and then when they’re released, they’re in town, and they learn about White Flag and attend,” Ball said.
Harry Pedigo, executive director of both the Daniel Pitino and St. Benedict’s shelters, said the new White Flag threshold was largely successful.
“Our staff came together and communicated really well as far as what was going on so we could maximize how we were helping individuals,” Pedigo said.
He noted that the Pitino Shelter suffered some vandalism and property damage — bathrooms, port-a-potties, towels, etc. — but that didn’t distract from the rest of the benefits it was generating.
Pedigo said they also had to hire four new staff members to work the White Flag events.
“At one point, we had five different people work, and because we had so many consistent days and they were 13-hour shifts, we had to rotate that out to break it up so people wouldn’t get burnt out. But other than that, it was good,” Pedigo said.
Pedigo said the 32° temperatures are the sweet spot for the White Flag events, and he doesn’t foresee a change coming. However, he will still serve regardless of the leaders’ decisions.
“We’re trying to serve the community and those folks that need somewhere to go when shelters are full, or they’ve been asked to leave from another facility,” Pedigo said.
During a City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Commissioner Bob Glenn said he heard there were discussions about lowering the threshold back down — an idea he adamantly opposes.
“I think that is a terrible decision. I know that it costs us a little more money because it involves more days when it’s at the 32° mark, but I can assure you if you or I were told to sleep outside in 30° temperatures, we would quickly wish to have access to shelter,” Glenn said.
City Manager Nate Pagan said he hadn’t been a part of any discussions about lowering the threshold as of Tuesday. He noted that he will discuss the past season with other officials, but there weren’t any current plans to change the threshold.
“I can assure you there has not been any discussion about lowering it. I have a meeting scheduled with the Judge-Executive. It’s on my calendar … but there has been no prior discussion about lowering it so I think maybe the fears are perhaps unfounded or maybe based on rumor,” Pagan said.
While Ball said he is glad the City and County can help provide shelter during frigid temperatures, he is more interested in the services they are providing to ensure there are adequate opportunities for the attendees to get out of their situation.
“We’re trying to make sure they’re able to get on their feet because ultimately that is the goal of the Homeless Coalition is to get more people out of the homeless situation they’re in and get them back into society,” Ball said.
