The frigid cold temperatures forecast for this week have led Rochester's Open Door Mission to declare a "Code Blue" alert.
That happens whenever it's cold enough to cause hypothermia for anyone who remains outdoors at night.
Open Door Mission executive director Mike Hennessey says the bitter cold has come early this year. He says the timing of the extreme weather also coincides with another factor that increases the population at the homeless shelter. “Some folks that are sleeping on relatives’ beds, or have a temporary place, folks won’t kick people out during the holidays. But after the holidays, that will change. Some landlords won’t even evict during the holidays. It’s after the holidays when we’ll see it pick up.”
Hennessey says there are two other factors that will likely to conspire for a larger shelter population in the new year -- the end of long-term federal unemployment benefits and an anticipated reduction in psychiatric beds in the region.
Hennessey says the shelter, which has beds for 40 men, is currently sleeping 50 to 60, and expects that number to grow to 80 over the next week or two.
Hennessey says the Open Door Mission welcomes sleeping bags, mats, blankets and twin-sized sheets to accommodate the growing demand.
