Holiday makes it harder on homeless
Updated: January 22, 2013
CHAMPAIGN -- People in need of shelter on cold nights may have nowhere to go. Places that usually help keep homeless people warm are closed because of Martin Luther King Day and temperatures are sliding into the single digits.
"You could just imagine what it would be like to sleep outside tonight," said Melany Jackson. She's the Executive Director of CU at Home and says hundreds of people will have no place to sleep.
"Very, very dangerous, hypothermia, frost bite. They're very real dangers when the weather gets this cold," said Jackson.
Many people turn to local businesses to try to warm up.
"If you don't have a place to go, typically you try and find someplace that's open like a restaurant or a store, library. A public place," said Jackson.
But, because of the holiday, many of those usual spots are closed. That's why the Times Center is picking up some of the slack. A supervisor there say they kept their doors open during off hours for people to stop in and get warm.
"If you have a home or a business, a warm place and you see someone who needs a warm place to be for a little while, maybe some coffee or tea, a hot drink, offer that to them," said Jackson.
Homelessness on winter nights is exactly what CU at Home is trying to raise awareness about. On February 1, it will hold another "One Winter Night" event. Public figures, pastors and people in the community will sleep outside in cardboard boxes. They still need more volunteers.
To learn more about helping out, click here.
"You could just imagine what it would be like to sleep outside tonight," said Melany Jackson. She's the Executive Director of CU at Home and says hundreds of people will have no place to sleep.
"Very, very dangerous, hypothermia, frost bite. They're very real dangers when the weather gets this cold," said Jackson.
Many people turn to local businesses to try to warm up.
"If you don't have a place to go, typically you try and find someplace that's open like a restaurant or a store, library. A public place," said Jackson.
But, because of the holiday, many of those usual spots are closed. That's why the Times Center is picking up some of the slack. A supervisor there say they kept their doors open during off hours for people to stop in and get warm.
"If you have a home or a business, a warm place and you see someone who needs a warm place to be for a little while, maybe some coffee or tea, a hot drink, offer that to them," said Jackson.
Homelessness on winter nights is exactly what CU at Home is trying to raise awareness about. On February 1, it will hold another "One Winter Night" event. Public figures, pastors and people in the community will sleep outside in cardboard boxes. They still need more volunteers.
To learn more about helping out, click here.
