Shelters prepare for winter, expecting hundreds of people to seek shelter each night

It’s getting colder outside and homeless people will be looking for a warm place to spend the night.

“We are making the adjustments we need to make ourselves strong for the coming winter; we’re going to be here for people who would normally sleep outside,” said Perry Jones, executive director of the Capital Rescue City mission.

Shelters across the region expect hundreds of people per organization to spend the night.

Joseph’s House is making operational adjustments in Troy to ensure the facility is ready, especially for Nov. 15, when Code Blue goes into effect.

“Make sure we have the right mattresses, sheets and food, if we need to hire additional seasonal staff, make sure we’re training that staff. Housekeeping, it’s a very active building that’s always on top,” he said. Amy LaFountain, Executive Director of Joseph’s House

The City of Schenectady Rescue Mission is trying something new to reach people ahead of Cold Blue season.

“We’re going out at 6:30 in the morning to places where we know people are going to spend the night, who are reluctant to go into the shelters,” Michael Soccocio, the shelter’s executive director. “What we’re trying to do is not just wait for people to come to us, but we can go to them and take the most severe edge of extreme weather off them when it comes.”

The mission of all shelters is to provide a warm place and a safe space.

“We have to walk with them, we have to have solutions for them that make them feel like somebody, I have some dignity,” Perry added.