Cold Emergency Plan activated to help the homeless

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser activated the city’s Cold Emergency Plan this week. The program allows city officials to order the homeless to take shelter when temperatures fall below fifteen degrees. The city’s shelters are currently bursting at the seams trying to accommodate the extra people. Pastor James Lewis, senior director of the Men’s Ministry at Central Union Mission commented that it is quite a challenge trying to make room for everyone. The mission can accommodate up to 170 people but is attempting to make room for 200 or more. According to Lewis, the recreation rooms are being utilized as makeshift bedrooms to house the extra men. The number of homeless in shelters across the city can reach up to 4,200 on any given day. Faith-based shelters are typically at full capacity every other day of the year, and the frigid weather makes things worse.