Complete screening by 9:00 p.m.
Patrons must arrive for the initial screening process no later than 9:00 p.m.
City of Annapolis Warming Relief Program
A warm, safe place when cold weather becomes dangerous.
Emergency overnight warming relief is operated in partnership with the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management for neighbors with no other shelter option, including people facing mental health or substance use challenges and family displacement.
Current program notice2026–2027 season begins November 1, 2026
Season information is not a live activation confirmation. Call the shelter screening line at 410-417-7260 or the Office of Emergency Management at 410-216-9167 for the current opening status, location and arrival instructions before traveling. The Georgetown Plaza office is not the overnight shelter.
Season opening checked against BITM’s website October 16, 2026. Activations depend on weather and City instructions.Required patron information
Patron Rules & Regulations
These requirements help protect every patron, staff member and volunteer using the emergency warming facility.
No drugs, alcohol or weapons
Entry will be denied to anyone in possession of drugs, alcohol and/or weapons.
No smoking on the premises
Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the warming relief premises.
Exit no later than 7:00 a.m.
Patrons may be asked to begin exiting at 6:30 a.m. so everyone is off the premises by 7:00 a.m.
Health and safety precaution
If signs of COVID-19 are evident, temperature checks, face masks and social distancing must be followed to receive services, in addition to the house rules.
The City of Annapolis Warming Relief Program is an emergency warming center of last resort. For general or long-term shelter assistance, call the Crisis Response warm line at 410-768-5522.
The need is growing
10.7 times as many referrals since 2019–2020.
Documented night and day service referrals rose from 196 in 2019–2020 to 2,097 in 2025–2026. That is a 970% increase over the period and 19% more referrals than the preceding season. Referrals are service encounters; a person may be counted more than once.
Night referrals Day referrals
2019–20196
2020–21447
2021–221,028
2022–23965
2023–241,755
2024–251,765
2025–262,097
Source: BITM's updated City of Annapolis Warming Relief Program activations-by-season report, 2019–2026.
View the complete season data
| Season | Night activations | 24-hour activations | Zero referrals | Night referrals | Day referrals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 196 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | 86 | 7 | 4 | 406 | 41 |
| 2021–22 | 85 | 6 | 0 | 947 | 81 |
| 2022–23 | 84 | 5 | 0 | 876 | 89 |
| 2023–24 | 92 | 5 | 0 | 1,584 | 171 |
| 2024–25 | 93 | 5 | 0 | 1,655 | 110 |
| 2025–26 | 99 | 9 | 0 | 1,868 | 229 |
What to expect
Clear updates when every degree matters.
Published program hours are 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. on activated nights. The location listed on BITM’s existing website is 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD 21403. Confirm the current site and transportation instructions by phone before traveling.
Check the activation notice
Call the listed shelter contacts for current activation information. A season opening date alone does not mean the shelter is open tonight.
Call for help
Warming Relief information: 410-216-9167, 410-417-7260 or 410-768-5522.
Work or volunteer
Call 410-384-8200 or email BITMWR@gmail.com to ask about opportunities.