Local shelters have taken added steps to keep the homeless out of harm's way during the bitter cold snap that hit the North Shore.
Shelters in Salem and Beverly are keeping their doors open longer, letting more stay overnight and handing out warm clothing by the bunch.
"We're doing what we can to keep people safe from hypothermia," said Kate Benashski, director of Beverly's River House. "We keep open during the day because it's cold."
And cold it's been.
Yesterday morning the thermometer registered 8 degrees in Salem, a low for the week, said Arthur Francis, a professor of weather and climate at Salem State College.
In recent weeks, the 39-bed River House has allowed guests to stay indoors where they can work on their job search, perform maintenance around the building or help prepare meals. Typically, the shelter sends guests on their way at 7 a.m. and reopens at 7 p.m. daily.
"It's just too cold to be out there," Benashski said. "We keep the place open."
In Salem, Lifebridge, formerly known as the Salem Mission, normally increases its capacity from 34 to 52 from November to April, executive director Mark Cote said.
The shelter will also allow guests who would otherwise not be let in the building stay in the dining room overnight. These clients submit to a search before entering and are not permitted to return if they leave.
"Basically, they sit in the dining room, they sit at a table, to stay safe and warm," Cote said.
He said the shelter accommodates the extra people during winter's worst.
"Some just can't tolerate being outside in this weather," he said. "We'll let them come in."
Once morning comes, Lifebridge's 20 to 25 dining room guests must leave. "They can't hang around during the day," Cote said.
The clients who have an assigned bed may stay in the building during the day, he noted.
The Salem shelter also has an outreach worker who walks through Salem at different times of the day to connect with people living on the street and offer them warm clothing.
"Even in this weather, there are people who want to live outside," he said.
Hats and socks and gloves — oh, my
To help its regular clients in winter, River House has already handed out winter essentials like thermals, socks and gloves.
For those who have hit tough times recently — and more have — the shelter has vouchers for items like winter coats at the Beverly Bootstraps Thrift Store.
"It's a whole different ball game than it was few years ago," Benashski said. "It's considerably different than I think people imagine."
In the past six to eight months, the shelter has seen more men who have solid work histories come through its doors, she said. Some of the newest clients are people who have been unable to get enough hours of work, especially in the trades, to maintain an apartment.
"There's just not enough work out there," she said.
Benashski said even if the shelter is at capacity, as it is most nights, shelter workers will help a client find a warm space to stay, even if it's in another shelter out of town.
"We're all on the same team," she said. "It's just to keep people safe."
Cold snap
Both the Salem and Beverly shelters rely on the generosity of volunteers and donors, especially as the number of those in need increases and state funding decreases.
Warm clothing like gloves, socks and hats is always welcome, Benashski said, and both shelters are grateful for volunteers who help prepare dinners.
Benashski encourages volunteers to come in and meet the clients. It's typically an eye-opening experience, especially for parents and their children who come to serve dinner.
"Anything to make it more personal," she said. "We really want to get the word out."
And while the cold snap may heighten awareness, Cote said his and most shelters are full year-round. The dearth in affordable housing is a primary factor, Cote said.
"That's just the way it is," he said.
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