FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fall season is upon us and nights are growing colder. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), about 700 people experiencing homelessness die from hypothermia in the United States each year.
Last winter, Northwest Arkansas suffered nine consecutive days of extreme weather.
Through the Safe Plan and $45,000 in funding, Becci Sisson, the CEO of 7Hills says NWA is prepping for the worst.
"We have partners such as Potter's House, Genesis church, Salvation Army, and 7Hills, where we all come together and start planning what's going to happen when we have those extreme weather issues," explains Sisson.
Combined with the Salvation Army's space and 7Hills' new overnight shelter, a total of 64 beds will be available for emergency cold weather this year. Meanwhile, Genesis church will serve as overflow.
Sisson says they've learned a lot from last year's experience.
"Last year, we had ice on the roads for a very long time. So, things like making sure our parking lots are safe and clear was something that we took into consideration. The fewer places that we have to transport people, the better," said Sisson.
They also want to provide long-term relief for those seeking cold-weather shelter by offering case management and resource advocacy.
Salvation Army emergency cold weather shelters open when temperatures hit 32 degrees. 7Hills' shelter will open when temperatures drop to 15 degrees.
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