Local social worker named Winter House executive director for 2026-27 season

A local social worker has accepted a part-time position as the new executive director of the Oxford Winter House temporary shelter, which will reopen this season for its second year.

Deb Wells, a social worker with Access Counseling Services who does outreach every Monday at Oxford Lane Library with funding from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, was officially hired following a Sheltering Oxford Board meeting on Oct. 26.

During an Oxford Area Solutions for Housing meeting on Oct. 19, Butler County Commissioner Cindy Carpenter announced she originally applied for and was offered the position, although she had to decline due to personal reasons.

Carpenter said in an email to the Oxford Free Press that turning down the position was difficult, and she still plans to volunteer during the first month of the reopening of the Winter House, adding, “I’m glad I can work alongside everyone during these important weeks, helping with preparations, staff training, or whatever else is needed.”

“Since 2017, I have worked to improve Butler County’s response to homelessness, and I will continue those efforts,” Carpenter said. “That work includes making sure people have a safe place tonight and a way out of homelessness. I’m grateful I can help … as we get the season underway.”

Wells has over 30 years of experience helping people find housing. She has spent at least 10 of those years in Butler County, where she currently provides services to people who are experiencing homelessness, including connecting them to resources. During the first season of operations at the Winter House, from December 2025 through February, Wells served as a consultant.

Wells will begin work as the executive director on Nov. 9 and will serve in that capacity throughout the operations of the Winter House until March 12, 2027. Her first assignment will be to interview, hire and organize staff training to prepare for the reopening in December.

Additionally, Wells said she will be working with volunteers, many of whom are returning from last year, and with the facilities committee to ensure the building is ready for guests.

“I’m excited to do the work,” Wells said. “It is very much in line with a lot of my prior experience. I’ve worked in a lot of shelters and drop-in centers and meal centers.”

Wells said, as a member of the planning committee from last year’s operations, “It went really well last year, and I think this year can be even better because we have a little more time. We have some experience now.”

Wells said, as a full-time social worker doing outreach, she understands the county’s resources and can help people navigate them and figure out their eligibility.

“Being a mental health professional, I bring that layer, as well,” Wells said. “Being homeless is traumatic … part of what we want to do for people is to help them to kind of stabilize their situation. And I think with my experience, and then having some staff who were (at the Winter House) last year, I think we’ll be able to do a better job and do it quicker this year than they were able to do last year.”

Wells said the Winter House will operate similarly to its first season. However, during the first several days of operation, the Winter House will work with the Oxford Police Department’s social worker and the staff at the Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services to ensure the Winter House is open to Oxford locals first.

“We’re gonna focus on really reaching out to folks who are local to Oxford, bringing them in, giving them the opportunity to come into the Winter House before we open up to the rest of the surrounding communities,” Wells said. “But of course, we will make sure that our beds are full all during the winter months.”

The Winter House will be open from December through February 2027 at 5223 College Corner Pike. Operations are overseen this year by Sheltering Oxford, which recently gained 501c3 status.

The Winter House will have 13 beds available to guests while open.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to bring meals, supplies or offer their time can fill out an interest form at shelteringoxford.org/volunteer.

Future Winter House staff positions will be posted to shelteringoxford.org/job-openings.