Photo: Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — With temperatures dropping in Boston, the homeless population is facing many dangers that come with spending extended time in the cold.
“It made me think of people lying on the sidewalk under these conditions, at 12 midnight, of course we're nervous,” Nelson Bennett, who works with the Pine Street Inn, told WBZ NewsRadio.
The Pine Street Inn is a homeless shelter in Boston, opening its doors to those in need during the chilly days and nights. However, there are some that don’t use the shelter at all, and choosing to spend their nights in the cold, which can be deadly.
“I would say the mental health piece is a worry. You know, those are the folks that we see that are the most resistant to coming in,” President of Pine Street Inn Lyndia Downie said. “For people who are reluctant to come in, we’ve literally opened the lobby and you can just come in and sit in a chair if you want.”
Read More: Single Digit Temperatures Expected Through Wednesday In Massachusetts
Frostbite and hypothermia isn’t the only threat the cold poses, as low temperatures can make underlying health conditions worse.
“If you’ve got circulation issues or heart issues or breathing issues, all of those things could, it may not be hypothermia but it may be a secondary effect from the cold,” Lyndia Downie said.
The Pine Street Inn said they are sheltering more than 100 more people this year over last. And with homelessness increasing more than 12% over last year, the Inn plans on sheltering more people to keep out of the cold.
More from WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ):