Homeless Shelters Fill Up As Families Come In From The Cold

When temperatures start dipping, the jackets come out and the heaters come on. But for some El Pasoans, it’s enough just to have a warm place to spend the night.

Mark Eaglen, a volunteer at West El Paso’s Rescue Mission who was once homeless himself, says winter is the worst. He says the bitter cold feels like the constant chill you would feel if you were suffering from the flu.”Consider it that way, but consider it that way 24/7″ he told ABC-7.

Eaglen said the shelter welcomes up to 50% more homeless people during the chilly holiday season. “It’s too cold and they just don’t want to be out in the cold,” he said. “Hypothermia can set in pretty quickly.

Eaglen explained that sometimes the shelter gets so cramped, they must figure out ways to accomodate everybody.

David Arellano, one of the directors at the south side’s Dame La Mano shelter for women and children, said their facility is also packed.

“We’re over capacity,” said Arellano. Free beds are hard to come by at Dame La Mano. There are about twice as many heads than beds there.

Still, women like Ana Catarino, whose four children are staying at the shelter, too, said they’re grateful to have a warm, safe place to stay.

“I feel sorry for people who are (basically) dying outside with the cold weather,” said Caterino.