GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Everyone’s trying to flee from the Triad’s bone-chilling temperatures.
For those facing homelessness, it’s a matter of life or death
Brad "You will freeze to death in 16 or 17 degrees," said Brad Bowers. "so we need to make sure that we get people inside."
Brad Bowers is the executive director of West End Ministries—Guilford counties largest women's shelter.
"A lot of the women that come to us during the winter time, this keeps them from going back to a bad situation like domestic violence, Bowers said. "Somebody leaving domestic violence will go back six times before they finally leave. But if you’re to a point you’re about to freeze to death you’re going to go back."
Sunday the High Point center had to open an overflow shelter so they could house an additional 20 women.
"By the end of the week, we will be full," Bowers said.
Despite this chilling truth, last year they helped more than 260 women get permanent housing.
"We also surround them with case management, which is so important.," Bowers said. "We help them get past their barriers."
Over in Greensboro dozens of people waited in the Greensboro Urban Ministries lobby for a warm bed and place to put their belongings.
The unfortunate reality is even with 100 beds some people will have to sleep in the lobby overnight.
Urban Ministry CEO Brian Hahne said this is not a new issue but they're coming up with new solutions.
"We can take up to 20 persons in our lobby to keep folks warm and out of the cold," Hahne said. "We’ll always provide shelter and warm meals for people in the community."
Urban Ministry has partnered with four area churches: Grace Community Church, West Market United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, and First Baptist Church to launch a winter emergency shelter through March.
Starting this Sunday, each of them will take in 15 people overnight and provide them with beds and meals.
"And then we in turn are going to provide the staff support, case management, night supervision, site coordination," Hahne said. "We're doing our best to get folks out of the cold."
Temperatures continue to sink, and options are limited for anyone stuck outside.
But these agencies hope warm meals and kind hearts will help fend off the cold.