Nov 19, 2008 10:28 am US/Eastern
NYC Reaches Out To Homeless Amid Wintry Cold
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
For some, the early blast of winter just means layering and bundling up, but for others it's a potentially fatal situation.
New York City sent out emergency outreach teams into the streets amid concerns that the below freezing temperatures could put the homeless in peril.
Last year, four unsheltered homeless people died in the city during cold weather, so now three dozen emergency outreach teams are ready to respond to reports of homeless people outdoors or in the subways.
The city had 8,000 beds waiting for them.
"We really don't want people sleeping on the streets, on grates, on church steps. We want people sleeping in beds," said Homeless Commissioner Robert Hess.
The homeless can be coaxed indoors but not forced unless their life is in danger.
One man named Flynn says he's been sleeping on the streets on and off since 1977 and he'll stay right where he is because he doesn't like the shelters.
"I have no other choice. I can't be around people like that," Flynn said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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