"The numbers illustrated the mounting challenge facing the city as it attempts to fill its moral and legal obligation to house a burgeoning homeless population."
From Boston, Massachusetts: As temperatures plunge to perilous depths, city expands shelter space:
"At the Pine Street Inn, where demand for beds has reached record levels, more than 100 people have been sleeping on the floor of the lobby on recent nights. Officials are now planning to open their dining room to provide additional space.
"Pine Street is running its outreach vans day and night and will allow the homeless to remain in the shelter throughout the cold spell.
"'Everyone's concerned about what will happen this week,' said Barbara Trevisan, a spokeswoman for the Pine Street Inn.
"Dr. James O'Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, said he has seen about 30 percent more people on the streets this winter than last year."
From Chicago, Illinois: Cold strains capacity of city's largest homeless shelter:
"Children, including babies, are part of a wave of homeless Chicagoans who've swelled the population of the city's largest 24-hour shelter past capacity during this week's extreme cold spell.
"On Wednesday evening, 1,075 people -- including 30 children -- slept at the Pacific Garden Mission in Pilsen.
"'We have 990 beds but we don't turn anyone away,' said Pastor Phil Kwiatkowski, President of the Mission at 1458 S. Canal.
"'We have mats that we put down. It's about survival. It's life or death and people just want to get out of the cold.'"
From Buffalo, New York: Homeless man in Buffalo loses legs to cold weather:
"Jeff, who asked that his last name not be published, lived in a space outside of the Tops plaza in North Buffalo. During Buffalo's blizzard last March, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital when he could no longer walk.
"'My toes were gray, so I knew that was bad frostbite,' Jeff, 53, said. 'My whole left foot was almost black. They said that's going to have to be amputated. I said, yeah, I can see that right off the bat.'
"In November he was back on the street. The severe storm that month claimed his other leg. Someone found him unconscious.
"'You don't realize what you lose until you lose it. There's so many things I can't do. I'm restricted to the bed or the chair,' Jeff lamented."
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
