Salvation Army accommodates increase in people seeking shelter during winter weather

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- With the dropping temperatures and icy storms, homeless shelters are scrambling to accommodate the rising number of people seeking a sanctuary. 

“We had a man call us yesterday who said he’s been sleeping in his car for two months. which is acceptable if you can deal with it. But he said he’s just getting too cold,” said Salvation Army Corps Officer Major Richard Watts. 

The Salvation Army in downtown Bowling Green sees a steady stream of people during winter but this year it’s complicated to accommodate all of them with COVID-19 restrictions. 

“The real battle that’s coming is not just with the cold. The battle that every agency has to fight is to match up the need with COVID-19 regulations and policies. So those protocols have to take first priority,” said Watts. 

They are currently operating at 50% capacity, leaving them at around 40 people. To squeeze in a few more, they let people lay on mats on the floor at night to at least be able to sleep in a warm building.

Some of the temporary residents said they are forever grateful. 

“It could cause death as cold as it is being out there like that. And once you get so cold you’re like ‘oh I’m numb, you can handle this.’ But after staying out there for so long, it’s very dangerous to do so. Get to shelter,” said temporary resident Christopher Dalton. 

“I’m here because I needed shelter temporarily and I knew of this place from the past. So I came here to survive for a few days to get out of the cold into the warm, somewhere safe to sleep,” said temporary resident Jerry Carver. 

“It means everything to be able to come in from work and have a warm meal or to have a warm bed to sleep in because like I said earlier, there’s so many people right now out there struggling and sometimes it feels like there isn’t anyone that cares,” said temporary resident Brent Perdue.