Cold Weather Shelters Open to House Most Vulnerable Population as Temps Drop in South Florida
Preparing for the Harsh Weather Conditions
Cold weather shelters are preparing to house as many homeless people as possible as temperatures continue to drop in South Florida.
Providing Warm Essentials
Sean Cononie, the founder of the Homeless Voice, went out on Thursday night with his team to help make the night a little less unbearable for those without a home.
“We try to give them everything they need to stay warm – if you don’t, it’s not going to be good for them,” Cononie said.
Equipped with the Homeless Voice ambulance stock full of warm essentials, NBC6 followed them as they went from Davie to Hollywood, stopping to help every homeless person they found and giving out blankets, socks, gloves, and other items.
Conquering the Chill
“Wind chill says 45 tonight, I’d say knock another 10 off if you’re homeless and sick, so we’ve had people die in South Florida from cold weather before,” Cononie said.
Feminine Hygiene Products for Those in Need
Debbie Espinosa has been doing this work for three years. She always makes sure she has a specific item for the women she encounters.
“I get to handle all of the feminine hygiene products,” she said.
Street Count and Shelter Efforts
In Miami-Dade, the Homeless Trust is conducting a manual street count, the first one since HB 1365 was enacted prohibiting unauthorized public sleeping and public camping in Florida.
“We think our numbers are down – we’ve been very aggressive at standing up new shelter beds, we’re in the process of standing up a navigation center, we’ve been aggressive on housing,” said Ron Book, Miami-Dade Homeless Trust Chairman.
A Cold Weather Shelter Fills Up
As the temperatures continue to drop, cold weather shelters from Broward to Miami-Dade could fill up, which is why the efforts underway now to ensure more people can stay somewhere warm are crucial to protecting the most vulnerable.
“We’re optimistic that between now and Saturday, we’ll take a lot more. Saturday will be a lot colder,” Book said.
On Thursday, the Homeless Trust said it was able to place 120 people in a cold weather shelter in Miami-Dade.
Conclusion
In light of the harsh weather conditions, it is crucial that cold weather shelters are open to house the most vulnerable population. The efforts of organizations like the Homeless Voice and the Homeless Trust are crucial in providing warm essentials and shelter to those in need.
FAQs
* What is the purpose of cold weather shelters?
+ To provide a warm and safe place for homeless individuals to stay during extreme weather conditions.
* How many people were placed in a cold weather shelter in Miami-Dade on Thursday?
+ 120 people were placed in a cold weather shelter in Miami-Dade on Thursday.
* What is the Homeless Trust’s plan to address the issue of homelessness?
+ The Homeless Trust is working to stand up new shelter beds, a navigation center, and is being aggressive on housing to address the issue of homelessness.
