Coping with Severe Weather

The frigid temperatures and wind chill factor do not create more homeless people. They do increase the risks to the health and safety of people who are homeless. Friends of the Homeless, Inc. is responding to minimize that risk in several important ways but it comes at a cost beyond our normal operations.

• Friends of the Homeless, Inc. does not turn people away just because there’s “no room at the inn.” For some time, we have added additional beds in our dining hall and wherever we can, when the number of people needing shelter increases. For the winter months, we are also run an overflow shelter to accommodate an additional thirty people. The cost of overflow sheltering alone is $60,000.
• Friends of the Homeless operates the only day center for people who are homeless, a safe, warm place where people can spend the hours when emergency shelters are closed. While we operate a day center offering case management and programs year –round, we keep our dining hall open all day for additional space in severe weather. These facilities will be expanded and modernized as part of the new resource center now under construction.
• Friends of the Homeless’ boiler broke down this week. While making the repair, problems with the remaining boilers were identified. The repair costs are still being calculated.
• Friends of the Homeless is seeing the same increases in heating costs as everyone else. Based on last year’s costs we estimate that Friends of the Homeless will spend close to $50,000 on its facilities this year.
• Friends of the Homeless has gone green. We’ve installed new energy efficient shower heads to reduce the daily amount of water used and save money. Still, providing approximately 150 showers per night for people who are homeless uses a lot of hot water!
• Friends of the Homeless can often provide protective clothing, hats and gloves to people who come to us without proper protection from the elements, thanks to generous friends in the community over the holidays. Those people without adequate housing often do without proper clothing, footwear, transportation and nutrition as well.
• Friends of the Homeless is serving more meals. A higher number of people are coming to our dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week than have in a long time.
• Friends of the Homeless in collaboration with Healthcare for the Homeless, track the health and get treatment for people exposed to the weather, before their condition becomes too severe.

We hope that with the New Year our neighbors can find a way to offer financial help to fulfill our mission and continue offering dignified care to those in our community who are at risk during this extreme cold weather.