MECKLENBURG COUNTY -- Temperatures are dipping back into the teens and many are concerned about Charlotte's homeless population.

“I think there’s going to be people who are going to be freezing tonight and I don’t to have fatality here in Charlotte,” said Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham.

But at this point, Mecklenburg County hasn't open its emergency shelter just yet.      

“We are not opposed to opening the warming station, but we have a protocol that we follow,” said County Manager Dena Diorio.

Diorio said that protocol includes a sustained wind chill factor of 10 degrees for 24 hours. She said she’s been talking with the Red Cross and the city’s Emergency Management team every day about weather conditions.

But for now she says several non-profits, such as the Men's Shelter of Charlotte, Room in the Inn, and the Salvation Army Center of Hope have additional resources and extended hours. Many shelters are also allowing people to stay inside both day and night.

"So under extenuating circumstances, we'll open our warming station,” said Diorio. “But if there's enough capacity to house people who need shelter in a situation like this and we know that, we will not open our shelter.”

But Commissioner Cotham said she's concerned some people won't use those resources.

“I know from being out doing the point in time count, and things that I have done, a lot of homeless people don’t want to go there because maybe they'll be tempted to drugs or they're afraid,” said Cotham.

Diorio said if they need open the emergency warming center, they’ll use the Grady Cole Center. 

For more information about the county's policy, click here.