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GREENSBORO — The wintry blast that left nearly 6 inches of snow across Guilford County also left area overnight homeless shelters with daytime guests.

“We didn’t turn anybody out in the bitter, nasty weather,” said Judy Mendenhall with West End Ministries, which runs Leslie’s House, a shelter for women in High Point. The shelter also stayed open during the day Sunday because of the weather.

Several shelters followed suit and may have to do so again today if temperatures remain near freezing as predicted by the National Weather Service. The forecast calls for overnight temperatures about 13 degrees and daytime temperatures of near 30 today.

The shelters, set up to provide overnight shelter, often remain open during the day if temperatures drop below freezing or when rain or snow persist.

Providing enough shelter became a concern late last year when officials predicted that an additional 60 to 100 spots would be needed to help people made homeless because of the poor economy.

Six winter emergency sites at churches and community centers in Greensboro opened to help out. They’re housing 102 people, leaving space at other shelters to handle overflow, said the Rev. Mike Aiken, Greensboro Urban Ministry’s executive director.

“Thank the good Lord for them,” he said.

The extra shelters will remain open through April 1 instead of March 15 as originally planned, he said.

Despite the help, Weaver House is still using its overflow space, sheltering about 40 additional people each night, Aiken said.

Figures were not available Monday for the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, which also provides emergency shelter for the homeless in Greensboro.

High Point shelters aren’t seeing the influx that Greensboro experienced this winter.

The Salvation Army’s shelter for women and children or families has 18 emergency beds and can expand to at least another 10 spots.

“We’ve got plenty of room,” said Sara Holland, who oversees the agency’s shelter and emergency housing programs.

Open Door Ministries, which houses men, has only had to open its extra overflow at First Baptist Church once, said shelter director Reginald McDougle.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com