A city program that provides shelter for the homeless when temperatures drop has seen an increase in the number of women and families using the shelters this year, a Salvation Army spokesperson said.
Operation Deep Freeze, now in its 23rd year, is one of three city programs whose goal is to provide shelter to the homeless if temperatures dip below freezing.
While the number of people using the shelters has decreased by about 50 people compared to last year’s numbers, the demographics have changed, said Tamara McElwee, a Salvation Army spokesperson.
“We’ve seen more women and families coming in opposed to single men,” McElwee said, attributing the shift to tough economic times.
About 200 guests take advantage of the shelters on an average night, McElwee said.
The Salvation Army provides the homeless with a shower, a hot meal and a warm place to sleep at The Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1021 N. 11th Ave., then buses any additional folks to their overflow shelter on 1001 N. Richey Blvd.
