Organizations came together Saturday to set up a new emergency warming center in Bridgeport for people who are homeless.

The South End Community Center on Park Avenue will serve as a new resource for people who don't have a permanent home.

Carmen Colon, of Alpha Community Services YMCA, teamed up with the Thomas Merton Center and the Recovery Network of Programs to create a first-of-its-kind service for people who are homeless.

"Here at South End Community Center, we're preparing to take care of the less fortunate," Colon said.

From kitchens to cots, the center will now feature everything people need to feel clean and dignified. Organizers said it's a hand up and not a hand out, and once homeless people are in, they don't have to leave when the sun comes up.

"The center will be opened from Nov. 15 through April 15, every single day, every single night," Colon said.

"It's a good opportunity for many of them to come out of the streets, and come in here and take shelter," said Jorge Cruz, of the Bridgeport City Council.

"Everyone has the right to have a warm bed, clean clothes, take a shower every night, have a good meal," added Jeanette Herron, also of the Bridgeport City Council.

"And while we have their attention, we're going to be able to provide them with all the services that are necessary to get them housed," said Cheryl Bell, of Recovery Network of Programs.

Team member Veronica Vallejo, who spent Saturday morning taking cots out of storage and putting them up, said it feels amazing to have many good people working together for the simple purpose of getting people off the street when it's too cold to be outside.

"We can make sure that we can have a home for all those individuals that are coming in from the cold," Colon added.

Officials say the new facility, which was paid for with public funding, can accommodate 30 people.