Homeless shelters are a type of homeless service agency which provide temporary residence for
homeless individuals and families. Shelters exist to provide clients with safety and protection from exposure to the weather while simultaneously reducing the
environmental impact on the community. They are similar to, but distinguishable from, various types of
emergency shelters, which are typically operated for specific circumstances and populations - fleeing natural disasters or abusive social circumstances. Extreme weather conditions create problems similar to
disaster management scenarios, and are handled with
warming centers, which typically operate for short durations during adverse weather.