Finding shelter from the cold through the Continuum of Care

Every year from mid-November to the end of March, the Bristol County Continuum of Care provides shelter to the homeless when it's below 30 degrees or when there's bad weather.

What first began as a shelter in the basement of Sister Rose's House — a men's shelter in New Bedford — has morphed into a program that helps over 100 people find shelter from the cold, with two of three cold weather overflow shelters located in Dartmouth.

Matthew Dansereau, vice chair of the Bristol County Continuum of Care, said that the need for shelter "got too big" and outgrew the space available at Sister Rose's House.

This year, about 150 people have been using the shelters, with around 75 motel rooms being used, including at Capri Motel.

The Bristol County Continuum of Care is community-based network that addresses homelesness and the challenges the homeless can face.

Speaking to how often the cold weather overflow shelters have been open this winter, Dansereau said that it's "a record by far," noting that the shelters have only been closed four or five times since opening on Nov. 15.

New Bedford organizations Catholic Charities and Steppingstone are particularly involved in getting homeless people into cold weather overflow shelters.

Dansereau said that around 10 to 12 years ago Catholic Charities started renting hotels and within the past two or three years Steppingstone stepped up to meet the growing demand.

"The demand has just gotten greater and greater and greater to rent hotels in the region," Dansereau said.

He said that this year Steppingstone was able to expand when the weather was "really, really cold."

"Anybody who needed it, they got inside," he said.

On days that the shelters are open, people can line up at Sister Rose's House for assistance from Catholic Charities. The Bristol County Continuum of Care also puts information up on their Facebook page when the shelters are open.

Finding shelter in a cold weather overflow shelter can be crucial for people's health, well-being and safety.

Dansereau said there was one man who chose to stay outside and ended up having to have his foot amputated because of frostbite.

"If you're out in a tent, it's going to get crushed under the snow, so it gives a safe space for people to go, get out of the extreme cold we've had, get some food, get in touch with the services too," he said.

While the cold weather overflow shelters provide shelter and warmth to the homeless, Dansereau noted that this is not the only avenue people have to escape the cold. Other options include going into the Council on Aging, libraries and the Dartmouth Mall.