| DEALING WITH A NORTHERN WINTER WHILE BEING HOMELESS |
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| SHELTERS AND MEALS At one time I stayed at a homeless shelter. By 7AM it was necessary to be out of the shelter, no matter what the weather. In winter it meant having to deal with ice, snow, sleet, and sometimes sub-zero temperatures. There was a church that opened it's doors to those in need at 7:30 every day of the year not too far from the shelter. They offered a breakfast of oatmeal with coffee and juice, and an opportunity to get out of the weather. After the church breakfast closed a day shelter opened. The drawback there was that since so many people used it the crowd was difficult to deal with. An alternative was the public library. Later in the day there was always a dinner somewhere near downtown, usually at a church. Another chance to get out of the cold for a while, and have a good hot meal. |
| I have spent time homeless up north where the winters can be difficult to deal with if you have a home, and especially rough on those living on the street. Some cities have shelters open around the clock and some even seek out homeless to take into a shelter. That's not typical. In much of the country there isn't enough shelter space for more than a small percentage of the homeless. |
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| CAMPING OUT I have camped out in weather down to zero degrees. Of course I made use of plenty of blankets in addition to layers of clothing. Sometimes I had to brush the snow off me in the morning. A serious danger is wind chill. Sometimes, with sub zero temperatures, the effective temperature with wind chill can be 60 degrees below zero, or even lower. Staying out of the wind, having proper clothing, and keeping dry are critical. One time I wasn't adequately prepared, and had to have toes amputated. |
| DEALING WITH THE COLD Whether you stay in a shelter or outside, you have to face the weather and proper clothing is important. Things like a good insulated winter coat that keeps the wind out, wool socks, boots, gloves, and a wool cap aren't just for comfort. It's a matter of survival. For camping out, a sleeping bag or multiple blankets and a tent or some type of windblock are necessary. Hunting magazines have articles about survival in winter wilderness conditions. While a hunter may get lost for a day or two in freezing temperatures, and need survival gear and knowledge, the homeless have to face these conditions every day. |
| THE NEED FOR DONATIONS With winter coming there is a great need of warm clothing for the homeless. Things like boots, thick socks (especially wool), good insulated coats, sweaters and gloves are always in need. Shelters and soup kitchens also need donations, and volunteers, to stay in operation. One time I noticed that someone gave a donation of gift vouchers to the shelter that were made out as $40 and specified for "only boots and socks". This is a great idea. The person who made the donation knew that it would be properly used, and the recipient could choose what fits them. If there are organizations in your area that provide assistance to the homeless, please help them out. Some are being forced to cut back or close due to lack of support. |
| Photography by Jim Rees, Ann Arbor MI |
| homelessamerican.com HOMEPAGE |
| These railroad tracks are in downtown Ann Arbor MI. I walked down them many times, summer and winter. |