Homeless Shelters Operating Beyond Capacity

Heavy snow and cooler nights have hit Anchorage, and the low temps are bringing in a high number of homeless people to shelters.

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By Corey Allen-Young

Story Created: Nov 8, 2011 at 3:45 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 8, 2011 at 3:45 PM AKDT

Heavy snow and cooler nights have hit Anchorage, and the low temps are bringing in a high number of homeless people to shelters.

Those who normally sleep on the streets and in parks are seeking a warm bed at shelters around town. It’s only the first week of November and homeless shelters have already maxed out.

Full and frigid are two words that could best describe the past ten days at the Brother Francis Shelter.

“We reached our capacity, which is 240, on Oct. 27,” said Susan Bomalski, executive director of Catholic Social Services, the agency that runs the Brother Francis Shelter; recent occupancy has reached as high as 296 people.

“It’s a little bit worrying that it happened so early this year,” said Bomalski.

Men, women and families formed a line outside the shelter and the overflow facility at Bean's Cafe Monday night in chilling weather.

“In the winter, whenever the temperature is below 32 [degrees] we welcome everybody into our doors,” said Bomalski. “We don't want people outside.”

Under the municipality's cold weather plan, three churches –Anchorage City Church, ChangePoint Church and Shiloh Baptist Church— serve as additional locations to house homeless people.

“The churches that are sheltering started sheltering last weekend,” said municipal homeless coordinator Darrel Hess.

Four more churches are in the process of applying to be part of the city's cold weather plan.

The Brother Francis Shelter gives out 11,000 pieces of clothing every year and is in need of coats, boots and other winter essentials to keep clients warm. The organization welcomes donations.

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leeleebug said on Tuesday, Nov 8 at 5:36 PM

It warms my heart to know churches are helping out!

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cooljulie said on Saturday, Nov 12 at 10:12 PM

None of these people need to be homeless! All it takes is for them to quit drinking and using drugs, and there is shelter and help available for them. Sad they can't make the effort to straighten out their lives.

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IF YOU GIVE THEM FREEBEES said on Sunday, Nov 13 at 5:13 PM

they will NEVER try & supposrt themselves. Put them on a bus with a one way ticket to California. With all the homeless lazy people there a few hundred more won't make a difference.Most just don't want to owrk, they drink and do drugs.Get educated & quit coddling them.

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paula said on Monday, Nov 21 at 9:54 PM

I used to be one of those people homeless at brother francis. part is true some people choose no responsability 3 meals a day and shelter so why would some of the people want to do anything else?

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