To help ensure no one has to sleep outside during the winter months, a collaborative effort by the county, nonprofits and faith communities created the Hypothermia Prevention Program more than a decade ago. Last winter (December 2017 through March 2018), the program provided almost 1,100 people experiencing homelessness in our county with a warm, safe place to sleep and a healthy meal.
Why We Need a Hypothermia Prevention Program?
The county’s life-saving Hypothermia Prevention Program is coordinated by the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, which contracts with four nonprofits to increase the number of available emergency shelter beds by hundreds each night throughout the winter, December to March. A primary goal of the hypothermia prevention program is to ensure that everyone in need of shelter during the coldest months has access and the option for shelter.
This winter, the nonprofits are working with 44 faith communities, more than 2,000 volunteers and 49 total shelter facilities to provide safe places to sleep indoors with sleeping bags or blankets and mats. Participating faith communities’ members also provide meals, transportation and often extras such as clothing donations. The county’s support services are also available at each site, including health and housing assistance.
