Thoughts About Cold and the Homeless

We're finally finished with the cold snap as of today. It doesn't mean we're balmy - no, not at all. It does mean than when I awoke this morning and checked the temperature, we were above zero at 5:00 am for the first time in days. It is currently 14F (-10C) which is practically a heat wave.

The cold temps we just went through were killing temps. The shelters for the homeless and street people were open 24/7 during our cold snap because these were killing cold temperatures. Normally shelters here are only open for sleeping but everyone is back out on the streets during the day. The temps were too brutal to push people out, so the shelters stayed open and workers tried to find as many people as possible and get them into the warmth. I suspect that today people will be pushed outside again - brutal in so many ways.

The Dorothy Day Center in downtown Saint Paul

is one of the better known of area shelters.

The northern states are not a comfortable place for the homeless. Even people who sleep in their cars have a very hard time up in the frozen north. When I go south in the winter I am always amazed by how many homeless people and panhandlers I find along the streets in Tucson, San Francisco, and New Orleans. There was one wonderful man I saw in San Francisco. He had two shopping carts tied together and loaded with his possessions. On the top of these was a small tent-like construct and in that were two large and gentle orange cats. Everyone loved his cats and they were very friendly and well cared for. He would feed them before getting anything for himself and it was obvious that they were all very important to each other. In areas where there are a lot of homeless I tend to not make a lot of monetary donations although I'll buy cups of coffee or meals, but I gave him money because I knew it would help with vet bills and cat food. I'm a softy for animals.

Pets give their love without question and people

need to love something or someone. Pets and the

homeless don't need language to show love, just touch.

Killing cold temps like we just passed through are deadly on the birds and animals too. I know there were birds that froze to death and squirrels who didn't awaken from their nests, it is a consequence of brutal temperatures. I hope that these were minimal, though, because I love watching and listening to the birds and my heart is always made more joyful just watching the squirrels play tag in the early mornings when I drive in to work.

I hope your day is warm and bright. A shout out to Ellynn who is celebrating her birthday today! Enjoy your very special day!