LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A hotel in Old Louisville has made it it's mission to find permanent housing for the city's homeless population.
And in just two years, the Arthur Street Hotel has accomplished that goal for 250 people.
But, as the temperatures drop, that need is greater than ever, with the city streets providing little to no warmth.
"This is deadly weather. People die in this weather all the time," Donny Green, the associate executive director at the Arthur Street Hotel, said. "Once you're on the streets, it's almost impossible to get off."
Greene knows the need all too well, as he was formerly unhoused himself.
"We take people into the hotel, and we figure out how to get them housed permanently; that's what we do," Greene said.
He said the hotel is almost always at capacity, with 80 people on the property at any given time. Which is a small fraction of the nearly 600 people reported living without a home in the metro.
And as the temperatures continue to drop below freezing this winter, this vulnerable population is focused on survival.
"We know people are going to do what they have to do to stay warm," said Louisville Firefighter Capt. Donovan Sims. "We're giving them things like blankets and jackets and to stay warm. We want to avoid the like the sterno candles. We don't want to give them things are flammable. We're going to catch tents on fire and cause that the spread of fires."
Sternos are used by people sleeping outside to stay warm.
Last winter, the Louisville Fire Department said sternos led to fires at encampments.
"There's mixed opinions about sternos, but in this kind of weather, it's needed," Greene said. "There's no other way to put it. So it's not the safest thing out there, but no one can afford the safest thing out there."
Alternatives needed at the Arthur Street Hotel are blankets, tents, hats, gloves, sneakers, boots, tents, sleeping bags, men’s clothing size 30-38 waist, coats, and socks.
While the Arthur Street Hotel is at capacity, Greene and other team members go out almost every night to check on people living on the streets and hand out meals.
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