OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Over this week of cold temperatures, the old Indian Hills Country Club has been used as a warming shelter for people in St Landry Parish. Parish President Jessie Bellard describes the experience of operating the shelter as eye opening.

Bellard said they've not only been able to help people get out of the cold weather, but also assist them in finding housing.

"Every time we put a shelter, we learn a lot more what we need for our parish and the immediate need for these individuals," Bellard said. "It brings to light our big issues we have, and then it makes us look at ways to fix them."

Bellard said roughly 10 people were in need of shelter Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, each night of operation during the cold temperatures. He said the need to help those who struggle with housing was made obvious and saw communities come together to help people who sought out shelter.

"One old lady was in an environment in a house where she had a tarp for a ceiling," Bellard said. "So now she's going to be in an apartment complex in the area where she was living. The neighborhood stepped up and bought furniture and stuff for her. Everything is going to be fine for her."

Bellard said the parish discovered the former country club is much better suited for use as a warming center, and perhaps other similar community uses, than the Yanbilee Building, which was used thus in the past.

"It has everything we need," he said. "It has showers. And it's not as big, so to heat it won't cost as much to heat up the building like the Yambilee is. And we have a kitchen. It has everything we need to supply the services."

While the short-term use of the country club as a warming center was a good surprise, permanent plans for the future of the property are still in the works.

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