The flow of Code Blue warnings has started, as the predicted temperature drops below 32 degrees.
One homeless shelter run by the Restoration Society is a nondescript building on Genesee Street near Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, with room for 42 people, men and women. Inside the staff provides what people need, like the box of socks, so important for warm feet in cold weather, and food.
Code Blue worker Christina Coleman knows what that's like because she and her daughter were customers not all that long ago. Coleman said homelesness is hard on individuals and kids.
"I had to put my kid in therapy because it was traumatic for her, too," she said. "So, in talking and doing group therapy, the dramatic effect it has on your kid, in the long term, it's good that I got her started now because some kids, they do have animosity toward their parents because why can't you make it work? They don't understand paycheck to paycheck or I'm barely making minimum wage."
Sunday night, 13 of the residents were people who work, but don't make enough for housing in the local housing market.
"Because it's good to share this place and I'm happy with the little gift they gave us, the good food, a place to sleep, place warm," said Daniel Knerr Jr. "They finally got the heat on. It was cold in the rooms the past month or so, up until now when they turned the heat on. They give us good food and I appreciate that."
Some of those interviewed listed job loss or chronic homelessness or estrangement from family or hospital stays.
Scott Driscoll said he's bounced around for 20 years, since a falling out with his family at the age of 14. Now 34, he's on SSI and recently moved here from Kansas City.
"Family problems. Having problems with people understanding the point of being homeless is not really good out there. People in the houses think that we should be out here and there are some that want to help and just don't know how to go about it."
There were residents who have just moved into the area looking for work, a Vietnam veteran waiting for housing and a recovering drug addict who didn't want to try to stay clean while living on the streets on a cold night.
