LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The below freezing temperatures are a solemn reminder about how dangerous it can be to be outside for too long.
To combat the dangerous conditions for people experiencing homelessness, Operation White Flag goes into effect when the temperature or wind chill is below 35 degrees.
Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville has waved its white flag all weekend, taking in more than 100 extra people in the frigid temperatures.
"Even though our beds are all full, we will take open spaces such as our dining hall at night and all of our TV rooms, and we will make them into sleeping spaces, we add in floor mats with linens. So, we are able to take in a lot more people than normal," said Wayside Chief Operations Officer Nina Moseley.
Wayside also handed out coats, scarves, hats, and socks Sunday to help keep people warm.
People can freeze to death, have frostbite, lose their fingers and toes…this is terrible weather to be staying outside and living outside on the street. So, it's our hope that they will all come in," Moseley said.
Wayside also makes sure to meet people where they're at.
"The Good Samaritan Patrol is going out twice a day in this type of weather and go through a route that we have – mostly downtown – to look for people who are out and encourage them to come in. They also take out coffee, food, blankets," she said.
And hopes that people will find warmth and safety through the winter advisory.
"We hope that they'll like it enough that maybe they'll even stay and meet with a case manager and hopefully get on the road to permanent housing," Moseley said.
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