Cold Weather & Homelessness

Today when I got up it was -10 degrees outside. Fahrenheit. By my calculations that is about -23C for you North of the border. For those that have never experienced this kind of cold I can try to describe it for you. You get instant goosebumps over your whole body. The first breath you take in via nostrils freezes your nose hairs on contact. Any exposed bits of skin start out painfully cold and then go numb. You shiver, even in a down coat, because your legs and head are still losing heat at rapid rates. Even going to the mailbox requires a hat, good shoes, and a heavy coat. It isn't fun. Yes, it could be worse, some areas get even cold than this, but it is still not pleasant.

I woke today very thankful for my warm home with blankets and sweaters and the ability to pay the oil bill. Not everyone has these things. I am afraid I know this all too well as about 10 years ago I technically was homeless. Now even by homeless standards I was extremely lucky (though I didn't really know it at the time). I still had a warm bed to sleep in and I was only out in the cold for 2-3 hours a day instead of others that were out for entire days minus whatever time they could be in the mall or a store.

The month I was homeless it never got above 0 degrees in town. Not once the entire month. It was bitterly, horribly cold. It is on days like today that I really feel guilty for thinking I had it "bad" back then. It was "easy" for me. I was warm more often than not, I had a warm coat and decent shoes, I even think I had gloves (I can't remember). There are so many out there now without even a proper coat. In -10 degree weather.

So my little PSA today is go through your closets. Go through your drawers. Check your linen closets. Know if there are extra mittens, gloves, hats, blankets, jackets, sweaters, or socks (a highly sought after item), there are homeless shelters in your area that would find very good homes for these items. If you don't know of a shelter offhand a quick google search will likely bring up matches. They would help keep someone warm when they haven't got a warm bed or a pillow. In some cases they may even be a pillow as spring comes around. Winter is an excellent time to clean out the closets since most people are "stuck" inside anyway, while you are there please think of those that aren't.