MADISON, Wis. — As strong winds and blistering cold starts to creep into the Madison area, city officials said they’re making adjustments to make sure some of the city’s most vulnerable residents stay safe and warm.
In order to make sure people experiencing homelessness in Madison have a place to go when temps dip below 0, Torrie Mueller with the city’s Homeless Services Consortium said outreach teams have been contacting residents with precarious living situations to help create a plan for when the cold weather fully sets in.
Plans for some include staying at one of the city’s overnight shelters, staying with friends or family, or — in select cases — staying at a hotel paid for by the city.
Two of the city’s nighttime shelters — Porchlight and The Salvation Army — have made adjustments internally in order to accommodate more people, too. The Salvation Army is equipped with bunk beds to allow for more people to stay, and Porchlight has cots on hand that can expand their capacity.
Madison Metro plans to provide transportation between the city’s nighttime shelters and The Beacon on both Thursday and Friday. Mueller said city officials were concerned about people being able to navigate between the locations, especially those who rely on walkers or wheelchairs.
City officials said recent developments — including changes within existing shelters and the development of the Dairy Drive encampment — have helped reduce the overall number of people struggling with housing.
On Wednesday, dozens of people gathered on the Capitol Square to raise awareness for the hardships those experiencing homelessness face, especially during the winter months.
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