Local Homeless Face Challenges As Nights Grow Colder

Help Local Homeless (Added: December 10, 2009)

Your donations can help Columbus' homeless survive what's sure to be a frigid winter. (more)

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Local Homeless Face Challenges As Nights Grow Colder

NBC 4 talks to a local homeless man who is preparing for the cold weather. Your donations can help Columbus' homeless survive what's sure to be a frigid winter.

By Tom Brockman
Published: December 10, 2009

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CENTRAL OHIO -- Your donations can help Columbus' homeless survive what's sure to be a frigid winter.

There's no getting around it, Wednesday night into Thursday morning was downright cold.

While many have a warm home to go home to at the end of the day, some aren't so lucky.

According to the Community Shelter Board, 1,000 people are currently homeless in Columbus.

In a small, homemade shack on the banks of the Scioto River, Dan prepares a hot breakfast.

He also was preparing for the frigid cold during the next few months.

"Right now, it's starting to get bad," he said as he leaned over a portable propane-powered stove.

He's spent much of the last 13 years homeless and the last 13 winters cold.

Wednesday night, he endured temperatures as low as 20 degrees. Even colder nights lie ahead.

"Cover up best you can," Dan said. "That's about all you can do. Get yourself a good sleeping bag."

Dan has done everything he can to stay warm. He even has built his own shelter, but he said without the things volunteers have donated to him, such as propane for cooking and food, he wouldn't have made it this long.

He does have a propane heater.

"You can't run your heater all night. So you warm it up, turn it off. Then, you wake up frozen to death."

As for shelters, he said, "They're so crowded and stuff. I just can't handle it."

Thursday, volunteers with Volunteers of America handed out blankets to Dan and others like him.

Rick Miller wants to do more.

Miller, who lives in Gahanna, recently noticed the camp while walking in the area.

"I've heard of homelessness, but to see it with my own eyes, it really touched my heart," he said.

Miller now hopes to start a nonprofit organization called The Forgotten Ones.

"I had a loved one pass away from frostbite. As cold as it is out here, they definitely need to be taken care of."

To help and donate to a local shelter, call Lutheran Social Services at 614-224-6617 ext. 2171.

Currently, hats, gloves and large coats are most needed.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
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