Extreme Cold Prompts Hundreds Of Oklahomans Experiencing Homelessness To Seek Shelter

Oklahoma City-area shelters have been helping hundreds of people experiencing homelessness escape the bitter cold by providing overnight accommodations.

With wind chills well into the negatives on Thursday, the Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City turned its day shelter into a temporary emergency night shelter. 

The shelter will remain open 24 hours a day through Sunday and accepts people and their pets. Kennels and pet food are provided. No IDs are required.

Homeless Alliance Executive Director Dan Straughan said the shelter had 324 guests during the day on Thursday along with 20 dogs. 

Straughan said 125 guests stayed the night. In addition, Homeless Alliance also put 45 people in motel rooms for several days.

"I think our oldest person (on Thursday) was in his late 70s," said Straughan. “We do see kids. One of the things we're doing with the motel rooms is families with children."

In addition, the Homeless Alliance has been providing free meals for its hundreds of guests.

 "We served 288 breakfasts (Friday) morning - scrambled eggs and sausage. Looked pretty good," Straughan said.

Among the guests at Homeless Alliance's shelter was Leslie Cobb, who doubles as a volunteer there.

"I was taken aback by how cold it was with the snow, the wind and everything," Cobb said of Thursday's extreme weather. "To have a place like this is really more of a - you know, not to be religious or anything like that - but a godsend. There aren't too many other places around that would bring in everyone like that, feed everyone, and just do their best to, you know, maintain order."

Cobb said he got his gloves, hat and shoes from the organization. But it's having a warm place during this Siberian cold front that warms his heart.

"I've learned a lot, you know, just coming through here about being compassionate," Cobb said.

Straughan said Homeless Alliance spent thousands of dollars to pay for the motel rooms. 

The organization welcomes donations to help continue such services. 

Those interested in contributing can click here, and then click on the "Donate Now" button on the top right.

Additional overflow beds are available at The Salvation Army, City Care and City Rescue Mission. Embark is transporting people between the shelters for free mornings and evenings.

Straughan said the City Rescue Mission had 125 guests Thursday night. There were also several dozen guests at City Care and The Salvation Army.

Straughan said after talking with the police chief, they were not aware of any weather-related deaths.