Rod Lane, Executive Director of Helping Hands Ministries says the recent cold snap has pushed his facility for the homeless to its maximum capacity. He says beds are always full but he is seeing many more come in during the day.
“What we are seeing is an increase in the number of indviduals who use our day services. Those are individuals who are coming in for the warmth, use our bathroom facilities, get a cup of coffee; just to get into warmth and a place that is nice and quiet” says Lane.
Lane says the Salvation Army, Contact Ministries, and the Springfield Overflow Shelter are experiencing the same thing. However, no one who needs a place to stay for the night will be turned away. He adds there are also volunteers out at night checking on welfare of the homeless.