Chattanooga homeless shelters brace for frigid weather

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – As frigid air makes its way into the Chattanooga metropolitan area, it’s hard not think about the homeless who become vulnerable to freezing to death.

WDEF spoke to Chip Hayworth and Lisa Mowery who are both homeless.

"I try to cope the best I can. I think of it as people have it worst than I do," Hayworth said.

"We either have a lot of blankets or we go to the Rescue Mission or the Community Kitchen here in town," Mowery said.

The Community Kitchen Shelter and The Chattanooga Rescue Mission could see a onslaught of homeless people come Wednesday night when temperatures start to drop into the the single digits.

"You’re talking some pretty severe conditions; hypothermia and other things possible during these times so we want to be prepared the best we can," said Chattanooga Rescue Mission Administrator Donald Baer.

The Rescue Mission can house up to 60 people but if the demand is great, the shelter could make space for an additional 20.

"What we can do on our side if we have an influx of more people; which typically we do; we can open up our chapel and we can put mats on the floor and get some extra bed space there," Baer said.

In the meantime, the Chattanooga Salvation Army is accepting winter clothing donations to help the homeless stay warm when they’re not in the shelter.

"We’re ok on blankets but we still need gloves, hats, scarfs and hand warmers. Any of those packs you can get go a long way with our homeless clientele," said Salvation Army Marketing Director Kimberly George.

If anyone wants to help donate winter clothing, they can go to the Chattanooga Salvation Army website or call 423-756-1023.