This historically cold winter has prompted increased efforts to
shelter the homeless on the West Side.
Nonprofit organizations such as Compass House and Friends of Night People have gone out and found homeless needing a warm place to stay.
The two organizations have formed a coalition to promote Code Blue,
a program run by Buffalo City Mission and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
When temperatures are below 15 degrees, representatives from the
organizations drive around in designated vehicles and take those who are left
on the street to shelters. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during nights
the organizations consider too cold to be outside.
“We try
everything possible to keep the kids and the adults, whoever we see, off the
streets,” said Compass House Executive Director Lisa Freeman.
With the
extreme weather conditions this winter, Compass House has had a low population
in its shelter, 370 Linwood Ave., since many
homeless youth would rather stay at a friend’s house rather than risk going
outside.
“Homeless are staying at their heat source, unable to make it through
the ice, the cold, the snow; staying at abandoned buildings, fires, wherever
that may be,” said Friends of Night People Development Assistant Nicole Gawel.
Friends of Night People is located at 394 Hudson St., and is
responsible for various programs that keep homeless fed, clothed and housed
during the winter. The organization serves around
600 people per month. By Ryan Esguerra, Amber Rinard and Dallas Taylor
