OVER THE RHINE, OH (FOX19) -
A winter shelter opened to its full capacity on Wednesday in
Over-the-Rhine.
Officials say everyone is welcome at the Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church, located at 1528 Race Street, and the shelter is open every night from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.
"You can come in out of the bad weather
and have a warm, safe place to stay until the weather gets better," said Fanni Johnson, with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.
"When it's really cold you can really get into some serious trouble
because if the weather is bad enough you could freeze."
Homeless
Coalition statistics say approximately 30 homeless people die every
year in Cincinnati, as a direct result of exposure to the elements.
"Every year you hope you
won't see the same people. You hope that the need won't be as great. But so
far, that has not happened," said Johnson.
Nearly
870 homeless individuals and families needed the emergency shelter in
Cincinnati last winter.
Prior to 2011, a warm shelter was only opened if the
temperature dropped below 10 degrees. Now, with the help of donations, the
shelter can stay open every night through February 2013.
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