It’s 30 degrees outside—do you know where the warming center for South Cobb’s homeless population is? It’s in North Cobb.

A “warming center” is a temporary facility that opens during extreme cold weather, providing a safe space for people experiencing homelessness or without adequate heating to warm up. These centers typically offer basic amenities like heat, seating, and sometimes refreshments—essentially a place for those in need to escape the cold when temperatures drop significantly.

So, where is South Cobb’s warming center, you may ask? Many South Cobb citizens were surprised to learn that it is located in North Cobb, at Must Ministries. Must Ministries does great work in Cobb, but it is not located in South Cobb. The next question that arises is: Why do those in need in South Cobb have to travel for hours on a bus just to get warm in North Cobb? These are good questions, but rational answers seem to evade this situation.

Many people would logically expect warming centers for South Cobb to be located in the southern part of the county, where they are easily accessible to those who need them the most. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The current location in North Cobb creates a significant hardship for individuals who must travel long distances—often on long bus rides or on foot—during extreme weather conditions. This not only makes it incredibly inconvenient but also puts vulnerable people at grave risk when temperatures are dangerously low.

It is deeply troubling that District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield has failed, once again, to prioritize the needs of the people in our South Cobb community. She has claimed that she cares about the people of South Cobb, but this glaring issue continues to go unaddressed. The recent cold snap, coupled with snow and temperatures dipping into the 20s, only makes it more apparent that warming centers must be easily accessible in South Cobb, particularly for our homeless population. And when we look at other metro Atlanta cities and counties, we see they have multiple warming centers—yet Cobb County does not. This raises questions about what the county’s priorities truly are when it comes to addressing the needs of the unhoused.

Conversations with many South Cobb residents reveal a strong demand for warming centers to be more evenly distributed throughout Cobb County. There is a general consensus that no one should be forced to travel for hours to find warmth and shelter. Accessibility must be the top priority, and the fact that South Cobb residents must make the journey to North Cobb for these vital services undermines the very purpose of providing shelter in the first place.

Establishing warming centers in South Cobb is not just a need—it’s an urgent priority. The county has a responsibility to ensure that all residents, regardless of where they live, have equitable access to life-saving shelter during extreme winter conditions.

Sheffield often claims that South Cobb residents are her priority, but her actions tell a different story for Cobb citizens. Instead of addressing the real needs of South Cobb, she has spent her violating her oath of office as she governed Cobb with an illegal map she approved. She has also approved her latest boondoggle project – an indoor soccer field for South Cobb. While recreation is important for young people, it is clear that this is not the most pressing need for our community right now. Protecting our most vulnerable citizens should be the priority—not prioritizing soccer fields over shelters.

If you’re concerned about vulnerable people in South Cobb, now is the time to demand action. Every person in Cobb County, especially those without stable housing or heating, deserves warmth and safety when temperatures drop to life-threatening levels. Demand that Commissioner Sheffield prioritize the needs of the homeless in South Cobb and ensure that no one is left out in the cold.

After two years of pushing an illegal map that cost taxpayers millions, it’s past time for Sheffield and the county to start making positive, community-focused decisions that truly benefit the people of South Cobb. It’s clearly time for new leadership in South Cobb. With a special election schedlued for next month, Cobb citizens cannow let their voices be heard at the ballot box becasue it has not been heard at the commission meetings.