This week, temperatures swung between 45 and 4 degrees with average nighttime temperatures in the teens. Hypothermia can set in even when temperatures drop below 50, and every year, around 700 people in the U.S. are killed by hypothermia, says the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
This week, with nighttime temperatures frigid, To Our House, a program of the acclaimed social services New River Community Action organization, provided temporary shelter in local churches to single men and women.
Wednesday night with lows around 14, the program’s main house and intake office on Christiansburg’s Roanoke Street was full.
“We sheltered 14 guests last night, which is the maximum,” Carol Johnson, program coordinator wrote in an email. “Our season typically runs November- March. A guest’s participation really varies – some stay a night or two and some much longer depending on their circumstances.”
People who come to the main house by 5 are transported to churches staffed by volunteers around the area for a hot meal and activities.
“The entertainment or evening activity varies depending on the talents of a congregation – sometimes games are played, haircuts offered, movies watched,” Johnson wrote.
Seventeen host-congregations house guests overnight and 25 to 30 help provide food and other support.
People find the shelter through social service providers, schools, churches, and police departments.
Sometimes there’s not enough room.
“Most nights we can accommodate the requests for shelter, but have had nights where we have two to three trying to get in and we are full,” Johnson wrote.
Homelessness in the New River Valley is the result of long-term unemployment and eviction, but according to NRCA data, over the last eight years the program has been running, 85 percent of people who have used TOH have found permanent housing, 63 percent have found work, others have found disability services.
