City Shelters Prepare For Below Freezing Temperatures

Starting Wednesday night, temperatures can get very dangerous for people with no shelter.  

The Homeless Alliance and SiSu Youth Services have a warm place for anyone in need throughout this cold snap.  

“This weather is life-threatening, it is really something that we have to pay attention to and have resources available for,” Rachel Bradley, the Sisu Youth Services Executive Director, said.  

“If you are out in it unprotected, you could die, and so, of course, we aren’t going to turn people away,” Straughan, the Homeless Alliance Executive Director, said.  

At the beginning of the year, leaders within the community came together to figure out how they can pull resources together and help Oklahoman’s experiencing homelessness.  

“This year Salvation Army, City Care and City Rescue Mission all have overflow beds available on nights below 32. Of course the next several nights there are going to be lots worse than that,” Straughan said.  

“We also have an emergency shelter, so we have 16 beds there and we have some capacity for about 10-15 in that drop-in center,” Bradley said.  

The Homeless Alliance has an overflow and day shelter for people and along with City Care can accommodate pets.  

“Our listed capacity is 80 but the truth of the matter is if somebody shows up at midnight, I mean we aren’t going to turn them away,” said Straughan.  

Sisu Youth Services serves 15–24-year-olds and will also be open around the clock through Christmas.  

“We have a ton of space for young people to come in and get some warm food, clothes, even just take a nap and a shower if they need to,” said Bradley.  

“If people want to help the best way to do it is to go to our website and donate so if I don’t know Saturday morning, we don’t have enough eggs for breakfast we can just run out and buy them,” said Straughan. 

Those that would like to donate to SiSu Youth Services can also do that through their website.