Nonprofits work to help people experiencing homelessness
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – It’s freezing outside, and some people don’t have a place to escape the frigid temperatures. Many nonprofits are collecting winter gear and hand warmers around the holidays.
Some people experiencing homelessness are using a broken-down car in Bismarck with shattered windows as shelter.
Ministry on the Margins coordinator Sister Kathleen Atkinson said the organization is adapting to give out more resources.
“We have to open earlier or this morning we stayed open longer. And we stay open longer, we serve breakfast so that people don’t have to walk. So you just flex,” said Atkinson.
She said when it is cold, they change their limits like a rule of just giving out one pair of gloves a year could change because of the temperatures.
The number of people needing housing is high and what’s even higher is the cost of food, coats and hats.
For the needs they can’t meet, they refer people to other entities.
“So we can say to people ‘We’re here. There is a five-hour gap, go over there they’re open,’” said Atkinson.
They send people to the Dream Center, where you can see the footprints of people making the trek.
“The walk from here to United Way to Ministry on the Margins, you know, that’s very frigid, and our buses don’t run late,” said Jessica Sloan, Dream Center facility and volunteer coordinator.
Some people don’t make it back to the shelters.
“We just now had a memorial service for someone who died on the street just a few blocks from here. But that would have been— we say he fell through the cracks,” said Atkinson.
She said last year, there were seven such memorial services.
These losses begin with behavioral health issues, addictions and cold temperatures, and lack of housing magnify the problem— all barriers the nonprofits are working to change.
The nonprofits say collaboration among them is key to make sure no matter what time of the day it is, there is help available.
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