Binghamton Area Shelters Prepare for Bitter Cold

Facilities that help the homeless in the Binghamton area are being pressed to capacity as bitterly cold temperatures grip the area.

Speaking on the February 14 edition of the Southern Tier Close Up, Rescue Mission Binghamton Program Manager Michael Ross says facilities like the YMCA, YWCA, Volunteers of America, the Rescue Mission’s Whitney Place and other Binghamton shelters are doing everything possible to locate people who need shelter and provide them with a warm, safe place to stay.

The shelters participate in the No Freeze Program to open their doors to those in need regardless of the ability to pay anything.

Ross says many times, those without permanent shelter go to stores and other businesses that are open 24 hours to warm up, but the safest option is to seek the help of organized shelters.

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Warning from 1 a.m. February 15 to 10 a.m. February 16 with wind chills possibly as low as -40 before the temperatures were projected to rebound into the 20s February 17.

A half foot of snow was also forecast for Valentine's Day.