Homeless seek refuge from biting temps

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The City Mission and St. Luke's Mission of Mercy have opened their doors Tuesday night to anyone who needs a warm place to sleep.

Both locations are seeing more and more people each night as the Code Blue continues for the fourth day in western New York. Monday night both places saw the most visitors so far this year, but with single digit temperatures Tuesday night and a wind chill pushing temperatures into the negatives, they may be seeing even more.

A Code Blue is called when the temperatures drop below 15 degrees or if the wind chill factor is in single digits

City Mission Director of Client Services Raine Schreiner said, "On any given night there are over 200 homeless individuals, chronically homeless individuals living on the streets in the City of Buffalo."

Aaron Ash has been staying at the City Mission for the past few days.

"The City Mission takes very good care of me. They give me food, they give me a place to sleep, they keep me warm and they make sure I have everything I need to stay comfortable," Ash said.

Staff members will drive to well-known spots to try and get the homeless to come inside, but they say it isn't always easy.

"The chronically homeless also suffer from chronic mental health issues and they need to feel safe and they've built their shelter they feel safe in," Schreiner explained. "So we take a hot beverage as well as sandwiches so hopefully we can leave them with something that will keep them warm, a blanket or a coat or a hat, gloves."

Ash has a mental illness and goes to the City Mission for various programs during the day. But at night, he has nowhere to stay. The City Mission provides that for him and much more.

"They're just a big help and like I was saying about faith in Christ, it means everything to me because this is a Christian-based program, Christian-run program and fellowship and unity and the brotherhood is just amazing. Honest," said Ash.

Monday night, the City Mission saw 55 men come through their doors.