Keeping Warm in Winter

Winter in Michigan is certainly no laughing matter — between the tendency for unpredictable weather and the proximity to the Great Lakes, winters are frigid and brutal more often than not. That uncertainty, however, also means that some years are warmer than others (this year included). While this winter might seem unseasonably warm for most, it's another story for homeless or precariously housed individuals.

According to the National Weather Service, even 40°F temperatures can feel below freezing with winds as low as 20 MPH. When you also take into account that temperatures drop significantly at night, that winds are intensified by tall buildings in urban areas (where many homeless individuals stay), and that these individuals often don't have access to weather-appropriate clothing, it's no surprise that the homeless population is one of the most at-risk when it comes to exposure-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite.

For Wayne State students, the HIGH Program provides different forms of assistance, one of them being housing. Currently enrolled students with a FAFSA on file who are precariously housed or homeless and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher can apply on the HIGH Program website to find out if they're eligible for housing assistance. In addition, the program has a handful of winter coats and socks available for donation to students in need; more details on sizing and number of coats currently available can be found here.

But for those homeless or precariously housed in the metro Detroit area that aren't students, there are still options to get out of the cold. There are several shelters and emergency shelters placed throughout the Detroit area that are available on these freezing winter nights; although some shelters have certain groups that they cater to (for example, one shelter may only take single men while another only takes women and children), there are enough locations that any demographic should be able to find a spot at one or another. Additionally, thrift stores and charities such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army often have high-quality and good condition winter coats available for little or no cost.

Exposure is a huge problem for homeless individuals, especially so during harsh Michigan winters. Let's spread the word on the resources available so no one will have to spend freezing nights on the street.